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4  5  6 


ow  Marcus  Whitman 
Saved  Oregon. 

A  TRUE  ROMANCE  OF  PATRIOTIC  HEROISM, 

CHRISTIAN   DEVOTION   AND 

FINAL   MARTYRDOM 

WITH  SKETCHES  OF 

Life  on  the  Plains  and  Mountains  in  Pioneer  Daus 


■Y 


OLIVER  VV.  NIXON,  M.D.,  LL.D., 

For  Seventeen  Years  President  and  Literary  Editor 
of  the  Chicago  Inter  Ocean. 


INTRODUCTION  BY  ' 

Rev.  Frank  W.  Qunsaulus,  D.D.,  LL.D. 

KIKXH    EDITION ILLUSXRATRD 


CHICAGO, 

STAR  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

1896. 


Prooerty  of  the  Library 
university  of  Waterloo 


Copyrighted,  1895,  by  Oliver  W.  Nixon. 
(All  rights  reserved.) 


DEDICATION. 

TO  THE  BOYS  AND  GIRLS  OP  THE 

Little  Log  School  Honse  on  the  Willamette, 

NOW  THE  GRAY  HAIRED  MEN  AND  WOMEN  OF  OREGON, 
WASHINGTON,  IDAHO  AND  CALIFORNIA.  TO  WHOM  I 
AM  INDEBTED  FOR  A  MULTITUDE  OP  PLEASING 
MEMORIES  WHICH  HAVE  BEEN  UNDIMMED 
BY    YEARS    AND    DISTANCE.    I    GRATE- 
FULLY DEDICATE  THIS  VOLUME. 

/ 


PREFACE. 


This  little  volume  is  not  intended  to  be  a  history 
of  Oregon  missions  or  even  a  complete  biography 
of  Dr.  Whitman.  Its  aim  is  simply  to  bring  out, 
prominently,  in  a  series  of  sketches,  the  heroism 
and  Christian  patriotism  of  the  man  who  rendered 
great  and  distinguished  service  to  his  country, 
which  has  never  been  fully  appreciated  or  recog- 
nized. 

In  my  historical  facts  I  have  tried  to  be  correct 
and  to  give  credit  to  authorities. where  I  could.  I 
expect  some  of  my  critics  will  ask,  as  they  have  in 
the  past :  "Who  is  your  authority  for  this  fact  and 
that?"  I  only  answer,  I  don't  know  unless  I  am 
authority.  In  1850  land  1851 1  was  a  teacher  of  the 
young  men  and  maidens,  and  bright-eyed  boys  and 
girls  of  the  old  pioneers  of  Oregon. 

Many  years  ago  I  told  the  story  of  that  school 
to  Hezekiah  Butterworth,  who  made  it  famous  in 
his  idyllic  romance,  "The  Log  School  House  on  the 
Columbia."  It  was  a  time  when  history  was  being 
made.  The  great  tragedy  at  Waiilatpui  was  fresh 
in  the  minds  of  the  people.  With  such  surround- 
ings one  comes  in  touch  with  the  spirit  of  history. 


6 


PREFACE. 


Later  on,  I  was  purser  upon  the  Lot  Whitcomb, 
the  first  steamer  ever  built  in  Oregon,  and  came  in 
contact  with  all  classes  of  people.  If  I  have  failed 
to  interpret  the  history  correctly,  it  is  because  I 
failed  to  understand  it.  The  sketches  have  been 
written  in  hours  snatched  from  pressing  duties, 
and  no  claim  is  made  of  high  literary  excellence. 
But  if  they  aid  the  public,  even  in  a  small  degree, 
to  better  understand  and  appreciate  the  grand 
man  whose  remains  rest  in  his  martyr's  grave  at 
Waiilatpui,  unhonored  by  any  monument,  I  shall 
be  amply  compensated.  ^-  ^'  ^' 


CONTENTS. 


Pages. 
Introduction 11-14 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  Title  of  the  United  States  to  Oregon— The  Hudson 

Bay  Company— The  Louisiana  Purchase 15-37 

CHAPTER  II. 
English  and  American  Opinion  of  the  Value  of  the 
Northwest   Territory — The   Neglect   of    American 
Statesmen 38-49 

CHAPTER  III. 
The  Romance  of  the  Oregon  Mission 50-62 

CHAPTER  IV. 
The  Wedding  Journey  Across  the  Plains 63-82 

CHAPTER  V. 
Mission  Life  at  Waiilatpui 83-98 

CHAPTER  VI. 
The  Ride  to  Save  Oregon 99-123 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Whitman  in  the  Presence  of  President  Tyler  and  Secre- 
tary   of   State    Daniel    Webster— The    Return    to 
Oregon 124-164 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
A  Backward  Look  at  Results 165-185 


8  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Change  In  Public  Sentiment 186-200 

CHAPTER  X. 
The  Failure  of  Modern  History  to  do  Justice  to  Dr. 

Whitman 201-216 

CHAPTER  XI. 
The  Massacre  at  Waiilatpui 217-237 

CHAPTER  XII. 
Biographical— Dr.  Whitman— Dr.  McLoughlin 238-249 

CHAPTER   XIII. 
Whitman  Seminary  and  College 250-262 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Oregon  Then,  and  Oregon,  Washington  and  Idaho  Now.  263-276 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Life  on  the  Great  Plains  in  Pioneer  Days 277-304 

Appendix 305-339 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page. 

1.  Whitman    Leaving    Home    on    His    Ride    to    Save 

'      *^''"^°° • Frontispiece. 

2.  Falls  of  the  Willamette 33 

3.  Map  of  Early  Oregon  and  the  West,  Showing  Whit- 

man's Route,  etc >- 

4.  Steamer   Lot   Whitcorab gg 

5.  Dr.  Marcus  Whitman „„ 

6.  Mission  Station  at  Waiilatpui gg 

7.  Whitman  Pleading  for  Oregon  before  President  Tyler 

and  Secretary  Webster 128 

8.  Rev.  H.  H.  Spalding ^^^ 

9.  Rev.  Gushing  Eells,  D.  D jgQ 


:ll 


10  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Page. 

10.  Whitman  College '^'^^ 

11.  Whitman's  Grave 224 

12.  Dr.  John  McLoughlin 248 

13.  Dr.  Daniel  K.  Pearsons 2<i4 

14.  Rev.  S.  B.  L.  Penrose,  President  of  Whitman  College.  272 
15  The  Log  School  House  on  the  Willamette 280 

16.  A.  J.  A  nJereou,  Ph.  D 296 

17.  Rev.  James  F.  Eaton,  D.  D 296 

18.  Portraits  of  Flathead  Indians  Who  Visited  St.  Louis.    313 


S'-.' 


INTRODUCTION 
BY 

REV.  FRANK  W.  GUNSAULUS,  D.  D., 

Pastor  of  Plymouth  Church,  and  President  of  Armour  Institute, 

Chicago. 

Ainonj?  the  efforts  sii  description  which  will  us- 
sociate  themselves  with  either  our  igiiorauce  or 
our  iutelligence  as  to  our  own  couutrv,  the  follow- 
iuj^:  words  by  our  greatest  orator,"  will  always 
have  their  place: 

"What  do  we  want  wUh  the  vast,  worthless  area,  this  region 
of  savages  and  wild  beasts,  of  deserts,  of  shifting  sands  and 
whirlwinds  of  dust,  of  cactus  and  prairie  dogs?  To  what  use 
could  we  ever  hope  to  put  these  great  deserts,  or  these  endless 
mountain  ranges,  impenetrable,  and  covered  to  their  base  with 
eternal  snow?  What  can  we  ever  hope  to  do  with  the.  Western 
coast,  a  coast  of  ihree  thousand  miles,  rock-bound,  cheerless 
and  uninviting,  and  not  a  harbor  on  it?  What  use  have  we 
for  such  a  country?  Mr.  President,  I  will  never  vote  one  cent 
from  the  public  treasury  to  place  the  Pacific  coast  one  inch 
nearer  to  Boston  than  it  is  now." 

^  Perhaps  no  words  uttered  in  the  Unite<l  States 
Senate  were  ever  more  certainly  wide  of  their 
mark  than  these  of  Daniel  Webster.  In  their  ])res- 
ence,  the  name  of  Marcus  Whitman  is  a  brigjit 
streak  of  light  i»enetrating  a  vague  chmddand. 
WashiugtoUj  with  liner  prevision,  had  said:  "I 
shall  not  be  contented  until  I  have  explored  the 
AVesteru  crmntry."  Kvcn  the  Fath -r  of  hi« 
Country  did  not  understand  the  vast  realm  to 
which  he  referred,  nor  had  his  mind  am-  bounda- 
ries sufficiently  great  to  inclose  that  portion  of  the 


12 


INTRODUCTION. 


country  which  Marcus  Whitman  preserved  to  the 
United  States. 

An  interesting  series  of  splendid  happenings 
has  united  the  ages  of  history  in  heroic  deeds,  and 
this  volume  is  a  fitting  testimonial  of  the  immense 
significance  of  one  heroic  deed  in  one  heroic  life. 
The  conservatism,  which  is  always  respectable 
and  respected,  had  its  utterance  in  ^he  copious  elo- 
quence of  Daniel  Webster;  the  radicalism,  which 
always  goes  to  the  root  of  every  question,  had  its 
expression  in  the  answer  which  Whitman  made 
to  the  great  New  Englander. 

Even  Daniel  Webster,  at  a  moment  like  this, 
seems  less  grand  of  proportion  than  does  the  plain 
and  poor  missionary,  with  "a  half  pint  of  seed 
wheat"  in  his  hand,  and  words  upon  his  lips  which 
are  an  enduring  part  of  our  history.  Only  a  really 
illumined  man,  at  that  hour,  could  fitly  answer 
Senator  McDuffie,  when  lie  said:  "Do  you  think 
your  honest  farmers  in  Pennsylvania,  New  York, 
or  even  Ohio  and  Missouri,  would  abandon  their 
farms  and  go  upon  any  such  enterprise  as  this? 
Whitman  made  answer  by  breaking  the  barrier 
of  the  Kockies  with  his  own  courage  and  faith. 

It  may  well  be  hoped  that  such  a  memorial  as 
tills  mav  be  adopted  in  home  and  public  library 
as  a  chapter  in  Americanism  and  its  advance, 
worthy  to  minister  to  the  imaginaticm  and  ideal- 
ism of  our  whole  people.  The  heroism  of  the  days 
to  come,  which  we  need,  must  grow  out  of  the 
heroism  of  the  davs  that  have  been.  The  impulse 
to  do  and  dare  noble  things  to-morrow,  will  grow 
strong  f-om  contt-mplating  the  memory  of  such 

yesterdays.  ,         .  .  i.  «^  „« 

This  volume  has  suggested  such  a  picture  as 


INTRODUCTION. 


18 


will  sometime  be  made  as  a  tribute  to  geuius  aud 
the  embodiment  of  highest  art  by  some  great 
painter.  The  picture  will  represent  the  room  in 
which  the  old  heroic  missionary,  having  traveled 
over  mountains  and  through  deserts  until  his 
clothing  of  fur  was  well-nigh  worn  from  him,  and 
his  frame  bowed  by  anxiety  and  exposure,  at  that 
instant  when  the  great  Secretary  and  orator  said 
to  him:  "There  cannot  be  made  a  wagon  road 
over  the  mountains;  Sir  George  Simpson  says  so," 
whereat  the  intrepid  pioneer  replied:  "There  is 
a  wagon  road,  for  I  have  made  it." 

What  could  be  a  more  fitting  memorial  for  such 
a  umn  as  this  than  a  Christian  college  called  Whit- 
man College?  lie  was  more  to  the  ulterior  North- 
west than  John  Harvard  has  ever  been  to  the 
Northeast  of  our  common  country.  Nothing  but 
such  an  institution  may  represent  all  the  ideas  and 
inspirations  which  were  the  wealth  of  such  a 
man's  brain  and  heart  and  his  gift  to  the  l{e- 
public.  He  was  an  arant  conrivr  of  the  truths  on 
which  alone  republics  and  democracies  may 
endure. 

Whitman  not  only  conducted  i  '  expedition  of 
men  and  wagons  to  Oregon,  after  I'resident 
Tyler  had  made  his  promise  that  the  bargain, 
which  Daniel  Webster  proposed,  should  not  lu' 
made,  but  he  led  an  expe<liti(m  of  ideas  and  senti- 
ments which  have  made  the  names  Orc^gou,  Wash- 
ington and  Idaho  synonymous  with  human  i)rog- 
ress,  good  government  and  civil'zation.  When  tlie 
soldier-statesnmn  of  the  dvil  War,  i\A.  Baker, 
mentioned  tho  name  and  memory  of  Marcus  Whit- 
man to  Abraham  Lincoln,  he  did  it  with  the  ut- 
most reverence  for  one  of  the  founders  of  that 


■  m(),«  i.ii,i»v^vMi.t.)-''^'y- 


14 


INTRODUCTION. 


civilization  wliich,  in  the  far  Northwest,  has 
spread  its  influence  over  so  vast  a  territory  to  make 
the  mines  of  California  the  resources  of  freedom, 
and  to  bind  the  forests  and  plains  with  the  destiny 
of  the  Union. 

When  Thomas  Starr  Kinj?  was  most  eloquent  in 
his  efforts  to  keep  California  true  to  liberty  and 
union,  in  that  struj^j^le  of  debate  before  the  Civil 
War  opened,  he  worked  upon  the  basis,  made 
larj;er  and  sounder  by  the  fearless  ambassador  of 
Christian  civilization".  In  an  hour  when  the  mind 
of  progress  grows  tired  of  the  perpetual  presence 
of  Napoleon,  again  clad  in  all  his  theatrical 
glamour  before^  the  eyes  of  youth,  we  may  well  be 
grateful  for  this  sketch  of  a  sober  far-seeing  man 
of  loyal  de\  otion  to  the  gr<'at  public  ends;  whose 
unselfishness  made  him  seem,  even  then,  a  start- 
ling figure  at  the  nation's  capital;  whose  noble 
bearing,  great  faith,  supreme  courage,  and  vision 
of  the  future,  mark  him  as  a  genuine  and  typical 
American. 

These  hopes  and  inspirations  are  all  enshrined 
in  the  educational  enterprise  known  as  Whitman 
College.  Every  student  of  history  must  be  glad  to 
recognize  the  fact  that  the  history  of  which  this 
book  is  the  chronicle,  is  also  a  prophecy,  and  that 
whatever  may  be  the  fate  of  men's  names  or  men's 
schemes  in  tile  flight  of  time,  this  college  will  be  a 
bejicou,  shining  with  the  light  of  Marcus  Whit- 
man's heroism  and  devotion. 


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DR.   OLIVER  W.  NIXON. 


CHAPTER    I. 


THE  TITLE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  TO  OREGON— THE 

HUDSON  BAY  COMPANY— THE  LOUISIANA 

PURCHASE. 


The  home  of  civilization  was  originally  in  the 
far  East,  but  its  journeys  have  forever  been  west- 
ward. The  history  of  the  world  is  a  great  pano- 
rama, with  its  pictures  constantly  shffting  and 
changing.  The  desire  for  change  and  new  fields 
early  asserted  itself.  The  human  family  divided 
up  under  the  law  of  selection  and  affinities,  shaped 
themselves  into  bands  and  nationalities,  and 
started  upon  their  journey  to  people  the  world. 

Two  branches  of  the  original  stock  remained 
as  fixtures  in  Asia,  while  half  a  dozen  branches 
deployed  and  reached  out  for  the  then  distant  and 
unexplored  lands  of  the  West.  They  reached 
Europe.  The  Gaul  and  the  Celt,  the  Teuton  and 
J^lav,  ever  onward  in  their  march,  reached  and 
were  checked  by  the  Atlantic  that  washed  the 
present  English,  German  and  Spanish  coasts.  The 
Latin,  Greek  and  Illyriau  were  alike  checked  by 


16 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN    SAVED    OREGON. 


u  i     i 


the  Mediterranean.  For  a  long  period  it  seemed 
as  if  their  journey  westward  was  ended;  that  they 
had  reached  their  Ultima  Thule;  that  the  western 
limit  had  been  found. 

For  many  centuries  the  millions  rested  in  that 
belief,  until  the  great  discoveries  of  1492  awak- 
ened them  to  new  dreams  of  western  possibilities. 
At  once  and  under  new  incentives  the  westward 
march  b^^^an  again.  The  States  of  the  Atlantic 
were  settled  and  the  wilderness  subdued.  No 
sooner  was  this  bat  partially  accomplished  than 
the  same  spirit,  "the  western  fever,"  seized  upon 
the  people. 

It  seems  to  have  been  engrafted  in  the  nature 
of  man,  as  it  is  in  the  nature  of  birds,  to  migrate. 
In  caravan  after  caravan  they  pushed  their  way 
over  the  Allegheny  Mountains,  invaded  the  rich 
valleys,  floated  down  the  great  rivers,  gave  battle 
to  the  savage  inhabitants  and  in  perils  many,  and 
with  discouragements  sufficient  to  defeat  less 
heroic  characters,  they  took  possession  of  the  now 
great  States  of  the  Middle  West.  The  country 
to  be  settled  was  so  vast  as  to  seem  to  our  fa- 
thers limitless.  They  had  but  little  desire  as  a 
nation  for  further  expansion. 

Up  to  the  date  of  1792,  the  Far  West  was  an 
unexplored  region.  The  United  States  made  no 
claim  to  any  lands  bordering  upon  the  Pacific,  and 
the  discovery  made  in  the  year  1792  was  more 


GRAY  DISCOVERS  THE  CXDLUMBIA. 


17 


accidental  than  intentional,  as  far  as  the  nation 
was  concerned. 

Captain  Kobert  Gray,  who  made  the  discovery, 
was  born  in  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  1^55,  and  died  at 
Charleston,  S.  C,  in  1806.  He  was  a  famous  sailor, 
and  was  the  first  citizen  who  ever  carried  the 
American  flag  around  the  globe.  His  vessel,  The 
Columbia,  was  fitted  out  by  a  syndicate  of  Boston 
merchants,  with  articles  for  barter  for  the  natives 
in  Pacific  ports.  In  his  second  great  voyage  in 
1792  he  discovered  the  mouth  of  the"  Columbia 
river.  There  had  been  rumors  of  such  a  great 
river  through  Spanish  sources,  and  the  old  Ameri- 
can captain  probably,  mainly  for  the  sake  of  bar- 
ter and  to  get  fresh  supplies,  had  his  nautical  eyes 
open.  ' 

Men  see  through  a  glass  darkly  and  a  wiser, 
higher  power  than  man  may  have  guided  the  old 
explorer  in  safety  over  the  dangerous  bar,  into 
the  great  river  he  discovered  and  named.  He  was 
struck  by  the  grandeur  and  magnificence  of  the 
river  as  well  as  by  the  beauty  of  the  country.  He 
at  once  christened  it  "The  Columbia,"  the  name 
of  his  good  ship  which  had  already  carried  the 
American  flag  around  the  globe.  He  sailed  sev- 
eral miles  up  the  river,  landed  and  took  possession 
in  the  name  of  the  United  States. 

It  is  a  singular  coincidence  that  both  Spain 
and  England  had  vessels  just  at  this  time  on  this 


18  HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

coast,  himting  for  the  same  river,  and  so  near  to- 
gether as  to  be  in  hailing  distance  of  each  other. 
Captain  Gray  only  a  few  days  before  had  met  Cap- 
tain Vancouver,  the  Englishman,  and  had  spoken 
to  him.    Captain  Vancouver  had  sailed  over  the 
very  ground  passed  over  soon  after  by  Gray,  but 
failed  to  find  the  river.     He  had  noted,  too,  a 
change  in  the  color  of  the  waters,  but  it  did  not 
sufficiently  impress  him  to  cause  an  investigation. 
After  Captain  Gray  had  finished  his  explora- 
tion and  gone  to  sea,  he  again  fell  in  with  Van- 
couver and  reported  the  result  of  his  discoveries. 
Vancouver  immediately  turned  about,  found  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  sailed  up  the  Columbia  to  the 
rapids  and  up  the  Willamette  to  near  the  falls. 

In  the  conference    between    the   English    and 
Americans  in  1827,  which  resulted  in  the  renewal 
of  the  treaty  of  1818,  while  the  British  commis- 
sioners acknowledged  that  Gray  was  first  to  dis- 
cover and  ^nter  the  Columbia  river,  yet  they  de- 
manded that  "he  should  equally  share  the  honor 
with    Captain  Vancouver."     They    claimed    that 
while  Gray  discovered  the  mouth  of  the  river,  he 
only  sailed  up  it  a  few  miles,  while  "Captain  Van- 
couver made  a  full  and  complete  discovery."    One 
of  the  authorities  stated  concisely  that,  "Captain 
Gray's  claim  is  limited  to  the  mouth  of  the  river." 
This  limit  was  in  plain  violation  of  the  rules 
regulating  all  such  events,  and  no  country  knew^ 


i  I 


CLAIMS  OP  THE  UNITED  STATES  TO  OREGON.      19 

it  better  than  England.  Besides,  it  was  Captain 
Gray's  discovery,  told  to  the  English  commander 
Vancouver,  which  made  him  turn  back  on  his 
course  to  rediscover  the  same  river.  The  claim 
that  the  English  made,  that  "Captain  Gray  made 
but  a  single  step  in  the  progress  of  discovery,"  in 
the  light  of  these  facts,  marks  their  claims  as  re- 
markably weak.  The  right  of  discovery  was  then 
the  first  claim  made  by  the  United  States  upon 
Oregon. 

The  second  was  by  the  Louisiana  purchase 
from  France  in  1803.  This  was  the  same  territory 
ceded  from  France  to  Spain  in  1762  and  returned 
to  France  in  1800,  and  sold  to  the  United  States 
for  115,000,000  in  1803,  "with  all  its  rights  and  ap- 
purtenances, as  fully  and  in  the  same  manner  as 
they  were  acquired  by  the  French  Republic." 

There  has  always  been  a  dispute  as  to  how  far 
into  the  region  of  the  northwest  this  claim  of  the 
French  extended.  In  the  sale  no  parallels  were 
given;  but  it  was  claimed  that  their  rights 
reached  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Dr.  Barrows  says, 
"If,  however,  the  claims  of  France  failed  to  reach 
the  Pacific  on  the  parallel  of  49  degrees,  it  must 
have  been  because  they  encountered  the  old 
claims  of  Spain,  that  preceded  the  Nootka  treaty 
and  were  tacitly  conceded  by  England.  Between 
the  French  claims  and  the  Spanish  claims  there 
was  left  no  territory  for  England  to  base  a  claim 


Ml 


II  '[ 


U  :. 


20 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


on.  If  the  United  States  did  not  acquire  tlirough 
to  the  Pacific  in  the  Louisiana  purchase,  it  was 
because  Spain  was  owner  of  the  territory  prior 
to  the  first,  second  and  third  transfers.  It  is  dif- 
ficult to  perceive  standing  ground  for  the  English 
in  either  of  the  claims  mentioned. 

The  claim  of  England  that  the  Nootka  treaty 
of  1790  abrogated  the  rights  of  Spain  to  the  terri- 
tory of  Oregon,  which  she  then  held,  is  untenable, 
from  the  fact  that  no  right  of  sovereignty  or  juris- 
diction was  conveyed  by  that  treaty.  Whatever 
right  Spain  had  prior  to  that  treaty  was  not  dis- 
turbed, and  all  legal  rights  vested  in  Spain  were 
still  in  force  when  she  ceded  the  territory  to 
France  in  1800,  and  also  when  France  ceded  the 
same  to  the  United  States  in  1803. 

The  third  claim  of  the  United  States  was  by  the 
commission  sent  out  by  Jefferson  in  1803,  when 
Lewis  and  Clarke  and  their  fellow  voyagers  struck 
the  headwaters  of  the  Columbia  and  followed  it 
to  its  mouth  and  up  its  tributary  rivers. 

The  fourth  was  the  actual  settlement  of  the 
Astor  Fur  Company  at  Astoria  in  1811.  True  it 
was  a  private  enterprise,  but  was  given  the  sanc- 
tion of  the  United  States  and  a  U.  S  lineal  vJficer 
was  allowed  to  command  the  leading  vessel  in 
Astor's  enterprise,  thus  placing  the  seal  of  nation- 
ality upon  it.  True  the  town  was  captured  and 
thf    effects  confiscated  in   1812   by  the  British 


CLAIMS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  TO  OREGON.      21 


sqiijulron  of  the  Pacific,  comnianded  by  Captain 
Ililljar,  but  the  fact  of  actual  settlement  by 
Americans  at  Astoria,  even  for  a  short  time,  had 
its  value  in  the  later  argument.  In  the  treaty  of 
Ghent  with  Eno-land  in  183:4,  Astoria,  with  all  its 
rights,  was  ordered  to  be  restored  to  its  original 
owners,  but  even  this  was  not  consummated  until 
1846. 

America's  fifth  claim  was  in  her  treaty  with 
Spain  in  1818,  when  KSpain  relinquished  any  and 
all  claims  to  the  territory  in  dispute  to  the  United 
States. 

The  sixth  and  last  claim  was  from  Mexico,  by 
a  treaty  in  1828,  by  which  the  United  States  ac- 
quired all  interest  Mexico  claimed,  formerly  in 
common  with  Spain,  but  now  under  her  own  gov- 
ernment. 

Such  is  a  brief  statement,  but  I  trust  a  suflScient 
one,  for  an  intelligent  understanding  of  the  ques- 
tions  of  ownership. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  United  States  was  vested 
in  all  the  rights  held  over  Oregon  by  every  other 
power  except  one,  that  of  Great  Britain.  Her 
claim  rested,  as  we  have  seen,  in  the  fact  that 
"Captain  Gray  only  discovered  the  mouth  of  the 
river,"  but  did  not  survey  it  to  the  extent  that  the 
English  Captain  Vancouver  did,  after  being  told  by 
Gray  of  his  discovery.  They  also  made  claims  of 
settlement  by   their  Fur  Companv,  just   as   the 


PI 


'!l! 


i 


22 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


United  States  did  by  tlve  settlement  made  by  Astor 
and  otliers.  As  tiie  Hudson  Bay  Company  and  the 
Nortliwest  Fur  Company  of  Montreal  figure  so  ex- 
tensively in  the  cc  atest  for  English  ownership  of 
Oregon,  it  is  well  to  hjlve  a-  clear  idea  of  their  ori- 
gin and  power. 

The  Hudson  Bay  Company  was  organized  in 
1G70  by  Charles  II.,  witn  Prince  Kupert,  the  King's 
cousin,  at  its  head,  with  other  favorites  of  his 
Court.  They  were  invested  with  remarkable  pow- 
ers, such  as  had  never  before,  nor  have  since,  been 
granted  to  a  corporation.  They  were  granted  ab- 
soi:ite  proprietorshij),  v/ith  subordinate  sover- 
eignty, over  all  that  country  known  by  name  of 
"Rupert's  Land"  including  all  regions  "discovered 
or  undiscovered  within  the  entrance  to  Hudson 
Strait."  It  was  by  far  the  largest  of  all  English  de- 
pendencies at  that  time. 

For  more  than  a  century  the  company  confined 
its  active  operations  to  ca  coast  trallic. 

The  original  stock  of  this  ('om])aiiy  »vas  .|50,820. 
During  the  first  tifty  years  the  capital  stock  was 
increased  to  14.57,000  wholly  out  of  the  profits,  be- 
sides paying  divi«k'nds. 

During  the  last  half  of  the  17th  century  the 
Northwest  Fur  Company  became"  a  formidable 
opponent  to  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  and  the 
rivalry  and  great  wealth  of  both  companies  served 


■*ti: 


m 


THE  HUDSON  BAY  COMPANY. 


23 


to  stimulate  them  to  reach  out  toward  the  Rocky 
Mountains  and  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

After  Canada  had  become  an  English  depend- 
ency and  the  con)p(4ition  liad  grown  into  such 
proportions  as  to  interfere  with  the  great  monop- 
oly, in  the  year  1S21,  there  was  a  coalition  between 
the  Northwest  and  the  Hudson  Bpy  Companies 
on  a  basis  of  equal  value,  and  the  consolidated 
stock  was  marked  at  |1,9  8,000,  every  dollar  of 
which  was  profits,  as  was  shown  at  the  time,  ex- 
cept the  original  stock  of  both  companies,  which 
amounted  to  about  .1^135,000  And  yet  during  all 
this  ])(>rl(»d  there  had  been  made  an  unusual  divi- 
dend to  stockholders  of  10  per  cent. 

Single  vessels  from  head(]uarters  carried  furs  to 
London  valued  at  frou?  three  to  four  hundred 
thcmsand  dollars.  It  is  not  at  all  strange  that  a 
compiuiy  whicli  was  so  r..liing  in  wealth  and 
which  was  in  supreme  ccmtro!  of  a  territory  reach- 
ing through  seventy-five  degrer-s  of  longitude, 
from  Davis  Strait  to  Mt.  Saint  Klias,  and  through 
twenty-eight  degi'ees  of  latitude,  from  the  moutli 
of  tlu»  Mackenzie  to  the  California  border,  should 
hold  tenaciously  to  its  ])rivileges. 

It  was  a  grand  monopoly,  but  it  must  be  said 
of  it  that  no  kingly  power  ever  ruled  over  savage 
subjects  with  such  wisdom  and  discretion.  Of 
nec(>ssity,  tliey  treated  their  savj.ge  workmen 
kindly,  bul  they  managed  to  make  Jhem  fill  (he 


f     J 


H 

I  if 


24 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


coffers  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  with  a  wealth 
of  riches,  as  the  years  came  and  went.  Their  lives 
and  safety  and  profits  all  depended  upon  keeping 
their  dependenin  in  a  good  humor  and  binding 
them  to  themselves.  The  leading  men  of  the  com- 
.  pany  were  men  of  groat  business  tact  and  shrewd- 
ness, and  one  of  their  chief  requisites  was  to  thor- 
oughly understand  Indian  character. 

They  managed  year  by  year  so  to  gain  con- 
trol of  the  savage  tribes  that  the  factor  of  a  trad- 
ing post  had  more  power  over  a  fractious  band, 
than  could  have  been  exerted  by  an  army  of  men 
with  guns  and  bayonets.  If,  now  and  then,  a  chief 
grew  sullen  and  belligerent,  he  was  at  once  quietly 
bought  up  by  a  judicious  present,  and  the  company 
got  it  all  back  many  times  over  from  the  tribe, 
when  their  furs  were  marketed. 

It  was  the  refusal  of  the  missionaries  of  Oregon 
to  condone  crime  and  wink  at  savage  methods,  as 
the  Hudson  Bay  Tompany  did,  whicli  first  brought 
about  misunderHtnndiug  and  unpleasantness,  as 
we  shall  see  in  another  place. 

It  was  this  power  and  controlling  influence 
which  met  the  pioneer  fur  traders  and  missi<m- 
aries,  upon  entering  Oregon.  Tliey  controlled  the 
savage  life  and  the  white  men  there  were  wholly 
dependent  upon  them. 

In  1811  an  American  fur  company  at  Astoria 
undert(K)k  to  open  business  upon  what  they  re- 


THE  TREATY  OF  1818. 


25 


garded  as  American  soil.  They  liad  scarcely  set- 
tled down  to  work  when  the  war  of  1812  began 
and  they  were  speedily  routed. 

In  1818  a  treaty  was  made,  which  said,  «It  is 
agreed  that  any  country  that  may  be  claimed  by 
either  party  on  the  Northwest  coast  of  America 
westward  of  the  Stony  Mountains  shall,  together 
with  its  harbors,  bays,  creeks  and  the  navigation 
of  all  rivers  within  the  same,  be  free  and  open  for 
ten  years  from  the  date  of  the  signature   of  the 
present  convention,  to  the  vessels,   citizens,   and 
subjects  of  the  two  powers;   it  being  well  under- 
stood  that  the  agreement  is  not  to  be  construed  to 
the  prejudice  of  any  claim  which  either  of  the  two 
high  contracting  parties  may  have  to  any  part  of 
said  country;   nor  shall  it  be  taken  to  affect  the 
claims  of  any  other  power  or  state  to  any  of  said 
country;   the  only  object  of  the  high  contracting 
parties  in  that  respect  being  to  prevpnt  disputes 
and  differences  among  themselves." 

That  looked  fair  juid  friendly  encuigh.  liut 
liow  did  the  Hudson  Bay  (N)mpaiiy  carry  it  out? 
They  went  on  just  as  they  had  done  before,  gov- 
erning to  suit  their  own  selfish  interests.  They 
froze  out  and  starved  out  every  American  fur 
company  that  dared  to  settle  in  any  portion  of 
their  territory.  They  fixed  the  ])ri<'e  <*)f  every  com- 
modity,  and  had  such  a  h(.ld  on  the  various  tribes 


26 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


that  a  foreij^n  company  had  no  chance  to  live  and 
prosper. 

It  so  continued  until  the  ten-year  limit  was 
nearly  up,  when  in  1827  the  commission  repre- 
sentino-  the  two  powers  met  and  re-enacted  the 
treaty  of  1818,  which  went  into  effect  in  1828.  It 
was  a  ftiant  monopoly,  but  dealinj>-  as  it  did  with 
savao-e  life,  and  sJ^therino-  its  wealth  from  sources 
which  had  never  before  contributed  to  the  world's 
commerce,  it  was  allowed  to  run  its  course  until  it 
came  in  contact  with  the  advancing  civilization  of 
the  United  States^  and  was  worsted  in  the  conflict. 

With  ^he  adoption  of  the  Ashburton  treaty  the 
Hudson  Bay  Company  was  shorn  of  much  of  its 
kingly  powei'  and  old  time  grandeur.  But  it  re- 
mained a  money-malving  organization.  Under  the 
terms  of  the  treaty  the  great  corporation  was  fully 
protected.  This  Ashburton  treaty  was  written  in 
England  and  from  English  standpoints,' and  every 
property  and  possessory  right  of  this  powerful 
comi)any  was  strictly  guarded.  The  interests  of 
the  company  were  made  lOnglish  interests. 

Under  this  treaty  the  United  States  agreed  to 
pay  all  valuations  u])on  lludscm  Bay  C<mipany 
pro])erty  south  of  forty-nine  degrees;  while  Eng- 
land was  to  malve  a  settlement  for  all  above  that 
line.  Tlic  ('oiii])any  i)romptly  sent  in  a  bill  to  the 
United  States  for  |;i,882,03fi.27,  while  their  de- 
pendent company,  the  Puget  Sound  Agricultural 


t  U 


CLAIMS  OF  THE  HUDSON  BAY  COMPANY. 


27 


Company,  sent  in  a  more  modest  demand  for 
|1,16$,000.  These  bills  were  in  a  state  of  liquida- 
tion until  1864,  when  the  United  States  made  a 
final  settlement,  and  paid  the  Hudson  Bay  Com- 
pany 1450,000  and  the  Puget  Sound  Company 
1200,000. 

They  also,  at  the  time  of  presenting  bills  to  the 
United  States,  presented  one  to  England  for 
14,990,036.07.  In  1869  the  English  government 
settled  the  claim  by  paying  .|1,500,000.  This 
amount  was  paid  from  the  treasury  of  the  Do- 
minion of  Canada,  and  all  the  vast  territory  north 
of  49  degrees  came  under  the  government  of  the 
Dominion.  It  was,  however,  stipulated  and  agreed 
that  the  company  should  retain  all  its  forts,  with 
ten  acres  of  ground  surrounding  each,  together 
with  one-twentieth  of  all  the  laud  from  the  Red 
river  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  besides  valuable 
blocks  of  land  to  which  it  laid  special  claim. 

The  company  goes  on  trading  as  of  old;  its  or- 
ganization is  still  complete;  it  still  makes  large 
dividends  of  about  1400,000  ])er  year,  and  has  un- 
told prospective  wealth  in  its  lai.ds,  which  are  the 
best  in  the  Dominion. 

Among  the  most  interesting  facts  connected 
with  our  title  to  Oregon  are  those  in  connection 
with  the  Louisiana  purchase  by  the  United  Stales 
from  France  in  1808.  Many  readers  of  curreiit  his- 
tory have  overlooked  the  fact,  that  it  was  wholly 


28 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED    OREGON. 


!i 


due  to  England,  and  her  overweening  ambition, 
that  the  United  States  was  enabled  to  buy  this 
great  domain.  Letters,  which  have  recently  been 
published,  written  by  those  closest  to  the  high  con- 
tracting parties,  have  revealed  the  romance,  and 
the  inside  facts  of  this  great  deal,  perhaps  the 
most  important  the  United  States  ever  made,  and 
made  so  speedily  as  to  dazzle  the  Nation. 

Few  take  in  the  fact  that  the  "Louisiana  Pur- 
chase" meant  not  only  the  rich  state  at  the  mouth 
of  our  great  river,  but  also,  Arkansas,  Missouri, 
Iowa,  Nebraska,  Colorado,  Wyoming,  Montana, 
Idaho,  Oregon,  with  probably  the  two  Dakotas. 
Roughly  estimated  it  was  a  claim  by  a  foreign 
power  upon  our  continent  to  territory  of  over  900,- 
000  square  miles. 

At  the  time,  but  little  was  thought  of  its  value 
save  and  except  the  getting  possession  of  the  rich 
soil  of  Louisiana  for  the  purposes  of  the  Southern 
planter,  and  being  able  to  own  and  control  the 
mouth  of  our  great  river  upon  which,  at  that  time, 
all  tlie  states  of  tlie  North  and  West  were  wholly 
dependent  for  their  commerce. 

While  Napoleon  and  the  French  Government 
were  upon  the  most  friendly  terms  with  the  United 
States,  and  conceded  to  our  commerce  the  widest 
facilities,  yet  there  was  a  lurking  fear  that  such 
conditions  might  at  any  time  change.  The  desira- 
bility of  obtaining  such  possession  had  often  been 


THE  LOUISIANA  PURCHASE. 


29 


canvassed,  with  scarcely  a  ray  of  hope  for  its  con- 
summation. The  United  States  was  poor,  and 
while  the  South  and  the  West  were  deeply  inter- 
ested, the  East,  which  held  the  balance  of  power, 
was  determinedly  set  against  it.  The  same  nar- 
row statesmanship  existed  then,  which  later  on 
undervalued  all  our  possessions  beyond  the  Stony 
Mountains,  and  was  willing  and  even  anxious  that 
they  should  pass  into  the  possession  of  a  foreign 
power. 

France  acquired  this  vast  property  from  Spain 
in  1800.  In  March,  1802,  there  was  a  great  treaty 
entered  into  between  France  on  one  side  and 
Great  Britain,  Spain  and  the  Batavian  Republic 
on  the  other.  It  was  known  as  "The  Amiens 
Treaty."  It  was  a  short-lived  treaty  which  was 
hopelessly  ruptured  in  1803. 

England,  foreseeing  the  rupture,  had  not  de- 
layed to  get  ready  for  the  event.  Then  as  now,  she 
was,  "Mistress  upon  the  high  seas,"  and  set  about 
arranging  to  seize  everything  afloat  that  carried 
the  French  flag.  Her  policy  was  soon  made  plain, 
and  that  was  to  first  make  war  upon  all  French  de- 
pendencies. 

No  man  knew  better  than  Napoleon  how  power- 
less  he  would  be  to  make  any  successful  defense. 
His  treasury  was  well-nigh  bankrupt  and  he  must 
have  money  for  home  defense  as  soon  as  the  victo- 
rious army  of  the  enemy  should  return  from  the 


%«3 


so 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


!  m 


Mississippi  campaign,  which  he  foresaw.  While 
the  treaty  of  Amiens  was  not  really  abrogated 
until  May,  1803,  yet  upon  January  1,  1803,  the 
whole  matter  was  well  understood  by  Napoleon 
and  his  advisers. 

Early  in  that  month  the  government  received 
disquieting  news  from  Admiral  Villeneuve  who 
was  in  command  of  the  French  fleet  in  West  India 
waters.  It  plainly  stated  that  it  was  undoubtedly 
the  fact  that  the  first  blow  of  the  English  would 
be  made  at  New  Orleans. 

This  knowledge  was  promptly  conveyed  to  the 
American  Minister  Monroe,  well  knowing  that  the 
United  States  was  almost  as  much  interested  in 
the  matter  as  France  was,  as  it  would  stop  all  traf- 
fic from  all  the  States  along  the  Ohio  and  Missis- 
sippi rivers,  and  be  a  death  blow  to  American 
prosperity  for  an  indefinite  period.  The  recently 
published  letters,  already  referred  to,  say  of  the 
conference  between  Minister  Monroe  and  Bona- 
parte: 

"Unfortunately  Mr.  Monroe  at  this  time  did  not 
understand  the  French  language  well  enough  to 
follow  a  speaker  who  talked  as  rapidly  as  did  Bona- 
parte, and  the  intervention  of  an  interpreter  was 
necessary.  *We  are  not  able  alone  to  defend  the 
colony  of  Louisiana,'  the  First  Consul  began. 
'Your  new  regions  of  the  southwest  are  nearly  as 
deeply  interested   in   its  remaining  in  friendly 


INTERVIEW  WITH  NAPOLEON. 


81 


hands  as  we  are  in  lioldino  it.  Our  fleet  is  not 
e(iual  to  the  needs  of  the  French  Nation.  Can  you 
not  help  us  to  defend  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi 
river?' 

"  'We  could  not  take  such  a  step  without  a 
treaty,  offensive  and  defensive,'  the  American 
answered.  'Our  Senate  really  is  the  treaty-mak- 
inj.-  power.  It  is  against  us.  The  President,  Mr. 
Jefferson,  is  my  friend,  as  well  as  my  superior 
oliicer.  Tell  me,  General,  what  you  have  in  your 
mind.' 

"Bonaparte  walked  the  room,  a  small  private 
consulting  cabinet  adjoining  the  Salles  des  Am- 
bassadeurs.  He  had  his  hun<ls  clasped  behind 
him,  his  head  bent  forward— his  usual  position 
when  in  deep  thought.  'I  acquired  the  great  ter- 
ritory to  which  the  Mississippi  mouth  is  the  en- 
trance,' he  finally  began,  'and  I  have  the  right  to 
dispose  of  my  own.  France  is  not  able  now  to  hold 
it.  Rather  than  see  it  in  England's  hands,  I  do- 
nate it  to  America.  Why  will  your  country  not 
^..y  it  from  France?'  There  Bonaparte  stopped. 
Mr.  Monroe's  face  was  like  a  flame.  What  a  diplo- 
matic feat  it  would  be  for  him!  What  a  triumph 
for  the  administration  of  Jefferson  to  add  such  a 
territory  to  the  national  domain! 

"No  man  living  was  a  better  judge  of  his  fellows 
than  Bonaparte.  He  read  the  thoughts  of  the  man 
before  him  as  though  they  were  on  a  written  scroll. 


ill 


Ml 


32  HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

Ue  saw  the  emotions  of  his  soul.    'Well,  what  do 
you  think  of  it?'  said  General  Bonaparte. 

"  'The  matter  is  so  vast  in  its  direct  relations  to 
my  country  and  what  may  result  from  it,  that  it 
dazes  me,'  the  American  answered.  'But  the  idea 
is  magnificent.  It  deserves  to  emanate  from  a 
mind  "like  yours'  The  First  Consul  bowed  low. 
Monroe  never  flattered,  and  the  look  of  truth  was 
in  his  eyes,  its  ring  in  his  voice.  'I  must  send  a 
special  communication  at  once  touching  this 
matter  to  President  Jefeerson.  My  messenger 
must  take  the  first  safe  passage  to  America.' 

'"The  Blonde,  the  fastest  ship  in  our  navy, 
leaves  Brest  at  once  with  orders  for  the  West 
Indian  fleet,  I  will  detain  her  thirty-six  hours,  till 
your  dispatches  are  ready,'  the  First  Consul  said. 
'Your  messenger  shall  go  on  our  ship.' 

"  'How  much  shall  I  say  the  territory  will  cost 
us?'  The  great  Corsican— who  was  just  ending 
the  audience,  which  had  been  full  two  hours  long 

came  up  to  the  American  Minister.     After    a 

moment  he  spoke  again.  'Between  nations  who 
are  really  fri(mds  tlun-e  need  be  no  chaffering. 
(^)uld  I  defend  this  territory,  not  all  the  gold  in 
the  world  would  buy  it.  But  I  am  giving  to  a  friend 
what  I  am  unable  to  keep.  I  need  100,000,000 
francs  in  coin  or  its  equivalent.  Whatever  action 
we  take  must  be  speedy.  Above  all,  let  there  be 
absolute    silence    and    secrecy,'    and    Bonaparte 


(U 


UJ 


U3 


bu 


C/) 


I 

si 

.,:lfe 


i  .  1 1 


THE  PURCHASE  MADE. 


88 


oowod  our  minister  out.  The  audience  was  ended. 
The  protracted  audience  between  Napoleon  and 
the  American  Minister  was  such  as  to  arouse  gos- 
sip, but  the  secret  was  safe  in  the  hands  of  the  two 
men,  both  of  whom  were  statesmen  and  diplomats 
who  knew  the  value  of  secrecy  in  such  an  emer- 
gency. 

"The  profoundly  astonishing  dispatches  reached 
Pr(\sident  JefPerson  promptly.  He  kept  it  a  secret 
until  he  could  sound  a  majority  of  the  Senators 
and  be  assured  of  the  standing  of  such  a  proposi- 
tion. 

"The  main- difficulty  that  was  found  would  be  in 
raising  the  75,000,000  francs  it  was  proposed  to 
give.    In  those  days,  with  a  depleted  treasury,  it 
was  a  large  sum  of  money.    The  United  States  had 
millions  of  unoccupied  acres,  but  had  few  millions 
in  cash  in  its  treasury.    But  our  statesmen,  to  their 
great   honor,    proved    equal   to   the    emergency. 
Through  the  agency  of  Stephen  Girarr"  as  finan- 
cier in  chief,  the  loan  necessary  was   negotiated 
through  the  Dutch  House  of  Ilapes  in  Amsterdam, 
and  the  money  paid  to  France,  and   the   United 
States  entered  into  possession  of  thi  vast  estate.*' 
This  much  of  the  well-nigh  forgotten  history  we 
have  thought  appropriate  to  note  in  this  connec- 
tion;  first,  because  of  the  new  Jight  given   to   it 
from  the  recent  disclosures  made;  and,  second,  to 
call  attention  to  the  fact  that  a  second  time,  forty- 


Pi 


P 

Pi  I 


34 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


! 


three  years  later,  it  served  a  valiant  purpose  in 
thwartm-  Enslisl.  ambition  an<l  serving?  Ameri- 
ca's  iiio-hest  interests. 

Estimated  from  the  standpoint  of  money  and 
material  values,  it  was  a  j-reat  transaetion,\^spe- 
eiallj  notable  in  view  of  existino-  conditions,  but 
from  the  standpoint  of  State  and  National  u:vnn- 
(lour,  carryino-  with  it  peace  and  hope  an<l  l.appi- 
ness  to  millions,  and  continuous  rule  of  the  Re- 
public  from  ocean  to  ocean,  it  assumes  a  ^vontuosn 
ne^^r  surpassed  in  a  sino-le  transaction,  and  not 
easily  over-estimated,  and  mner  in  th(^  history  of 
the  Enolish  people  did  a  single  transaction,  with 
dates  so  widc^ly  separated,  arise,  and  so  effectually 
check  their  imiierious  <kMnands. 

The  American    I{(>public   maV  well   remember 
with  deep  gratitude  Prc^sident  Jefferson,  and  the 
far-seeins  statesmen  who  rallied  to  his  call  and 
ronsummated  the  oraud  work.     They  can  at  the 
same  time  see  the  foivsi-l.t  and  wisdom  of  Jeffer- 
son 111,  at  (,nc,s  tlH^  very  next  year,  sendin-  the  ex- 
pedition of  Lewis  a.Ml  (^irke  to  the  lu.uhvaters 
of  the  (olumbia   KMver,  and  causino-  a  comph4e 
survey  to  be  n,«,h.  to  its  mouth.     It  was  a  con.- 
plete  refutati(m  of  the  claim  of  tl...  lOnolish  (V.m- 
iinssumers,  in  1S.S7,  that  while  "(^.pt.'.in  (Jray  only 

(liseovered  the  mcmth  <»f  the  river,  raptain  Van- 
couver made  a  complete  survey."  Th(^  American 
mistake  was,  not  in  the  purchase  and  active  work 


i  .J     t . 


CONFLICTS  WITH  HUDSON  BAY  COMPANY. 


35 


then  done,  but  the  hissitude  and  inexcusable  uej,'- 
k^-t  in  the  forty  subsequent  years  which  imperiled 
every  interest  the  Republic  held  in  the  territory 
beyond  the  Kocky  Mountains. 

AVhen  the  treaty  of  184(1  was  signed,  it  was 
hoped  that  the  (luestions  at  issue  Avere  settled  for- 
ever; but  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  was  slow  to 
surrender  its  grasp  on  any  of  the  territory  it  could 
hold,  and  especially  one  so  rich  in  all  materials 
that  constituted  its  wealth  and  jxjwer. 

The  treaty  of  ISiO  between  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain  read: 

"From  the  point  on  the  41)th  parallel  to  the  mid- 
dle of  t.e  channel  which  separates  the  continent 
from  A'ancouver's  Island  and  thence  southerly 
through  the  middle  of  said  channel  and  of  the 
Fuca  Straits,  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  provided,  how- 
ever, that  tlie  navigation  of  such  channel  and 
straits  south  of  the  latitude  40  degrees  remain  free 
and  open  to  both  i»arties." 

This  led  to  aft<M'  trouble  and  much  ill  feeling. 
The  passage  referred  to  in  the  treaty  is  about 
seven  miles  wide,  between  the  arcjiipelago  and 
YauciMiver  Ishmd.  The  arcliijH'lago  is  made 
up  of  half  a  dozen  principal  islands,  and  manv 
smaUer  ones.  The  largest  ishmd,  San  Juan,  c<,ii. 
tained  aboul  o(),000  acres,  and  the  lluds.»n  Bay 
Company,  knowing  something  of  its  value,  had 
taken  p(»ssession,  and  proiK)sed  to  hold  it.     The 


I 

^ 

fi 

V. 

If  " 

i 

1 

r 

• 

1 

36 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


l<.'<»islatnre  of  Orej'on,  however,  included  it  in 
I«laiid  County  by  an  act  of  1852,  wlvicli  passed  to 
the  Territory  of  Wasliington  in  1853  by  the  divi- 
sion of  Oregon.  In  1854  the  Collector  of  Customs 
for  tlie  Puget  Sound  came  in  conflict  with  the 
Hudson  Bay  authorities  and  a  lively  row  was 
raised. 

The  Hudson  Bay  Company  raised  the  English 
flag  and  the  collector  as  promptly  landed  and 
raised  the  Stars  and  Stripes.  There  was  a  con- 
stant contention  between  the  United  States  and 
State  authorities,  and  the  Hudson  Bay  people, 
in  which  the  latter  were  Avorsted,  until  in  185(1-7, 
after  much  corr('S])ondence,  both  governments  ap- 
pointed a  commission  to  settle  the  difficulty.  Then 
followed  years  of  discussion  which  i;rew  from 
time  to  time  warlike,  but  there  was  no  settlement 
of  the  points  in  dispute. 

In  December,  1800,  the  British  (Jovernment 
tired  of  the  contest,  proposed  arbil ration  by  one 
of  the  EurojK'an  jiowers  and  nanunl  either  the 
Swiss  Iie])ublic,  Denmark  or  Belgium.  Then  fol- 
lowed the  war  of  tlie  Kebellion  and  America  had 
no  time  to  reach  the  case  until  18(18-0,  when  the 
whole  nuitter  was  referred  to  two  connnlssioners 
from  each  government  and  Ihe  boundary  to  be  de- 
termined by  the  l*i*esiden<  of  tlie  (Jeneral  Council 
of  the  Swiss  Republic. 

This  propoaition  was  defeated  and  afterward 


THE  END  OP  THE  DISPUTE. 


37 


in  1871  the  whole  iiuitter  was  k'ft  to  the  decision  of 
the  Emperor  of  Gernuiuy.  lie  made  the  award  to 
the  United  States  on  all  points  of  dispute  in  Octo- 
ber, 1872,  and  thus  ended  the  long-  contest  over  the 
boundary  line  between  the  two  countries,  after 
more  than  half  a  century's  bickering. 


ti'f^ 


i^l 


! 
1  .  1 

}  .  1 

s :  L  -J 

CHAPTER   II. 


h. 


ENGLISH  AND  AMERICAN  OPINION  OF  THE  VALUE  OF 

THE  NORTHWEST  TERRITORY— THE  NEGLECT 

OF  AMERICAN  STATESMEN. 


! 


i| 


The  history  briefly  recited  in  the  previous  chaj)- 
ter,  fully  reveals  the  status  of  the  United  States 
as  to  ownership  of  Oregon.  Prior  to  the  date  to 
which  our  story  more  specifically  relates,  the 
United  States  had  gone  on  perfecting  her  titles  by 
the  various  means  already  described.  For  the 
Nation's  interest,  it  was  a  great  good  fortune  at 
this  early  period  that  a  broad-minded,  far-seeing 
man  lilce  Thomas  Jefferson  was  President.  It  was 
his  wisdom  and  discretion  and  statesmanship  that 
enabled  the  country  to  overcome  all  difficulties 
and  to  make  the  Louisiana  purchase. 

Loolving  deeper  into  the  years  of  the  future  than 
his  contem])oranes,  he  organized  tlie  expedition  of 
Lewis  and  Clarke  and  surveye<l  the  Columbia 
Kiver  from  its  source  to  its  mouth.  It  was  re- 
garded l>y  many  at  the  iime  as  a  needless  and  un- 
justifiable  expense;    and    their    report    did    not 


LEWIS  AND  CLARKE. 


39 


create  a  ripple  of  applause,  and  it  was  an  even 
nine  years  after  tlie  completion  of  the  expedition, 
and  aft(»r  the  death  of  one  of  the  explorers,  before 
the  report  was  ])rinted  und  <>iven  to  the  public. 

But  no  reader  of  history  will  fail  to  see  how 
important  the  expedition  was  as  a  link  in  our 
chiiin  of  evidence.  The  great  misfortune  of  that 
time  was,  that  there  were  not  more  Jeffersons. 
True,  it  did  not  people  Oreoon,  nor  was  it  followed 
by  any  legislation  protecting  any  interest  the 
United  States  held  in  the  great  territory. 

There  were  Congressmen  and  Senators,  who, 
from  time  to  time,  made  efforts  to  second  the  work 
of  Jefferson.  Floyd,  of  A^irginia  as  early  as  1820, 
made  an  eloquent  plea  for  the  occupation  of  the 
territoi,  'ind  a  formal  recognition  of  our  rights  as 
rulers.  In  1824  a  bill  passed  the  lower  house  of 
Congress  embodying  the  idea  of  Floyd  stated 
four  years  previously,  but  upon  reaching  the  Sen- 
ate it  foil  on  dull  ears.  When  the  (piestion  was 
bcfoi'e  the  Senate  in  1828,  renewing  the  treaty  of 
1818  with  England,  Floyd  again  attemi)ted  to 
liave  a  bill  passed  to  give  land  to  actnal  settlers 
who  would  emigi-ate  to  Oregon,  and  as  usual, 
failed. 

In  February,  18;J8,  Senator  Linn,  of  Missouri, 
always  the  friend  of  Oregon,  introduced  a  bill  with 
the  main  features  of  the  House  bill  which  passed 
tliat  body  in  1824,  but  again  faih'd  in  tlie  Senate. 


m 

T '  *  I 


r 


KM    I.' 


:!'  '..H 


il  i 

»  ■ 
13     • 


40 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


''' 


li> 


The  Government,  however,  was  moved  to  send  a 
special  commissioner  to  Oregon  to  discover  its 
real  conditions  and  repor!  bi-.t  lictninj^f  practical 
resulted. 

It  is  not  a  pleasant  tliiLg  to  turu  the  pages  of 
history  made  by  American  statesmen  during  the 
'  first  third  of  the  centur}-,  and  even  nearly  to  the 
end  of  its  first  half.  There  is  a  lack  of  wisdom  and 
foresight  and  broad-mindedness,  which  shatters 
our  ideals  of  the  mental  grandeur  of  the  builders 
of  the  Republic. 

Diplomatically  they  had  laid  strong  claim  to 
the  now  known  grand  country  beyond  "the  Stony 
Mountains."  They  had  never  lost  an  opportunity 
by  treaty  to  hold  their  interests;  and  yet  from 
year  to  year  and  from  decade  to  decade,  they  had 
seen  a  foreign  power,  led  by  a  great  corporation, 
ruling  all  the  territory  with  a  mailed  hand. 
While  they  made  but  feeble  protest  in  the  way  we 
have  mentioned,  they  did  ev(^n  worse,  they  turned 
their  sliafts  of  oratory  and  wit  and  denunciation 
loose  against  the  country  itself  and  all  its  inter- 
ests. 

Turn  for  a  brief  review  of  the  political  record  of 
that  period.  Among  the  ablest  men  of  that  day 
was  Senator  Benton.  lie,  in  his  speech  of  1825, 
said,  that  "The  ridge  of  the  Kocky  Mountains  may 
be  named  as  a  convenient,  natural  and  everlast- 
ing boundary.    Along  this  ridge  the  western  lim- 


1 

1  ^ 

t 

i    '^ 

1    J 

\\  Hi  ill 

S     K 

H 

■  \\ 


4^ 


'\i 


*% 


f  '  h 
7     1 

! 
i 

I     .' 
i 


MAP  SHOWING  OREGON  IN  1842.  WHITMANS  RIDE.  THE  RETURN  TRIP  TO  OREGl 


HE  RETURN  TRIP  TO  OREGON.  THE  SPANISH  POSSESSIONS  AND  THE  LOUISIANA  PURCHASE 


%     % ' 


1 


tU- 


:''f' 

i 


rTk. 


rif  i«"  ! 


SENATOR  BENTON'S  SPEECH.  41 

its  of  the  Republic-  s1h)u](1  be  drawn,  and  the 
statue  of  the  fabled  (hnl  Terminus  should  be 
erected  on  its  hiohest  peak,  never  to  be  thrown 
down."  In  quotinjr  Senator  Benton  of  1825  it  is 
always  but  fair  to  saj  he  had  Ion-  before  the  day 
of  Whitman's  arrival  in  Washington  greatly 
modified  his  views. 

But  Senators  equally  intelligent  and  influential 
-such  as  Winthrop,  of  Massachusetts,  as  late  as 
1844,  quoted  this  sentence  from  Benton  and  com- 
mended  its  wiscom  and  statesmanship.  It  was  in 
this  discussion  and  wlule  the  treaty  adopted  in 
1846  was  being  considered,  that  General  Jackson 
is  on  record  as  saying,  that,  "Our  safety  lay  in  a 
compact  government."  "^    ^ 

^  One  of  the  remarkable  speeches  in  the  discus- 
3ion  of  the  Ashburton- Webster  Treaty  was  that 
made  by  Senator  McDuffie.  Nothing  could  better 
show  the  educating  power  of  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company  in  the  United  States,  and  the  ignorance 
ot  our  statesmen,  as  to  extent  and  value  of  the 
territory. 

McDuffie  sa^d:  "What  is  the  character  of  this 
country?"  (referring  to  Oregon).  "As  I  understand 
It  there  are  .even  hundred  miles  this  side  of  the 
liocky  Mountains  that  are  uninhabitable;  where 
rain  never  falls;  mountains  wholly  impassable, 
except  through  gaps  and  depressions,  to  be 
reached  only  by  going  hundreds  of  miles  out  of  the 


r*^ '! 


!i 


I 


\i'    f 


42  HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

direct  course.    Well,  now,  what  are  you  going  to 
do  in  such  a  case?    How  are  you  going  to  apply 
steam?      .ave  you  made  an  estimate  of  the  cost  of 
a  railroad  to  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia?    Why 
the  wealth  of  the  Indies  would  be  insufficient.    Of 
what  use  would  it  be  for  agricultural  purposes? 
I  would  not,  for  that  purpose,  give  a  pinch  of  snuff 
for  the  whole  territory.    I  wish  the  Kocky  Moun- 
tains were  an  impassable  barrier.     If  there  was 
an  embankment  of  even  five  feet  to  be  removed  I 
would  not  consent  to  expend  five  dollars  to  re-  _ 
move  it  and  enable  our  population  to  go  there.    I 
thank  God  for  his  mercy   in    placing  the  Rocky 
Mountains  there." 

Will  the  reader  please  take  notice  that  the 
speech  was  delivered  on  the  25th  day  of  January, 
1843,  just  about  the  time  that  Whitman,  in  the 
ever-memorable  ride,  was  floundering  through  the 
snow  drifts  of  the  Wasatch  and  Uintah  Moun- 
tains, deserted  by  his  guide  and  surrounded  by 
discouragements  that  would  have  appalled  any 
man  not  inspired  by  heroic  purpose. 

It  was  at  this  same  session  of  1843,  prior  to  the 
visit  of  Whitman,  that  Linn,  of  Missouri,  had 
offered  a  bill  which  made  specific  legal  provisions 
for  Oregon,  and  he  succeeded  in  passing  the  bill, 
which  went  to  the  House  and  as  usual  was  de- 
feated. The  prevailing  idea  was  that  which  was 
expressed  by  General  Jackson  to  President  Mon- 


OREGON  A  DESERT.  43 

roe,  and  before  referred  to,  in  which  Jackson  says, 
"It  should  be  our  policy  to  concentrate  our  pop  di- 
lation and  confine  our  frontier  to  proper  limits 
until  our  country,  in  those  limits,  is  filled  with  a 
dense  population.    It  is  the  denseness  of  our  popu- 
lation that  gives  strength  and  security  to  our  fron- 
tier."   That   "interminable    desert,"   those   "arid 
plains,"  those  "impassable  mountains,"  and   "the 
impossibility  of  a   wagon  road  from  the  United 
States,"  were  the  burdens  of  many  speeches  from 
.  the  statesmen  of  that  time.    And  then  they  em- 
phasized the  whole  with  the  clincher  that,  after 
overcoming  these  terrible  obstacles  that   inter- 
vened, we  reached  a  land  that  was  "worthless,"  not 
even  worth  a  "pinch  of  snuff." 

Senator  Dayton,  of  New  Jersey,  in  1844,  in  the 
discussion  of  ihe  Oregon  boundary  question, 
said:  "With  the  exception  of  land  along  the  Wil- 
lamette  and  strips  along  other  water  courses,  the 
whole  country  is  as  irreclaimable  and  barren  a 
waste  as  the  Desert  of  Sahara.  Nok  is  this  the 
worst;  the  climate  is  so  unfriendly  to  human  life 
that  the  native  population  has  dwindled  away 
under  the  ravages  of  malaria." 

The  National  Intelligencer,  about  the  same  date, 
republished  from  the  Louisville  Journal  and  sanc- 
tioned the  sentiments,  as  follows: 

"Of  all  the  countries  upon  the  face  of  the  earth 
Oregon  is  one  of  the  least  favored  by  heaven.    It 


m 


m 


'.hi 


m 


vi 


III 


94z  I 


Hill 


44  HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

is  the  mere  riddlings  of  creation.  It  is  almost  as 
barren  as  Saliara  and  quite  as  unliealtliy  as  tlie 
Campagna  of  Italy,  llussia  has  her  Siberia  and 
England  has  her  Botany  Bay  and  if  the  United 
States  should  ever  need  a  country  to  which  to  ban- 
ish her  rogues  and  scoundrels,  the  utility  of  such 
a  region  as  Oregon  would  be  demonstrated.  Until 
then,  we  are  perfectly  willing  to  leave  this  mag- 
nificent country  to  the  Indians,  trappers  and  buf- 
falo hunters  that  roam  over  its  sand  banks." 

In  furtherance  of  the  Jackson  sentiment  of  "a 
dense  population,"  Senator  Dayton  said:  "I  have 
no  faitli  in  the  unlimited  extensions  of  this  gov- 
ernment. We  have  already  conflicting  interests, 
mori'  than  enough,  and  (}od  forbid  that  tlie  time 
should  ever  come  when  a  state  on  the  shores  of 
the  Pacific,  with  its  interests  and  tendencies  of 
trade  all  looking  toward  Asiatic  nations  of  the 
east,  shall  add  its  jarring  claims  to  our  already 
distracted  and  over-burdened  confederacy.  We 
are  nearer  to  the  remote  nations  of  Earope  than 
to  Oregon." 

The  Iludscm  Bay  ('ompany  had  done  its  edu- 
cating work  well.  If  they  had  graduated  Ameri- 
can  statesmen  in  a  full  course  of  Hudson  Bay 
training  and  argument  and  literature,  tliey  could 
not  have  made  them  more  ellicieut.  Our  states- 
men did  not  doubt  that  the  honest  title  of  tlie  prop- 
erty was  vested  in  tlie  United  States;  for  they  had 


1^ 

d 


■f 


JASON  LEE. 


45 


pfone  on  from  time  to  time  perfecting  this  title; 
yet  they  had  no  idea  of  its  value  and  seemed  16 
hold  it  only  for  diplomatic  purposes  or  for  pros- 
pective barter. 

The  United  States  had  no  contestant  for  the 
property  except  England,  but  in  1818  she  was  not 
ready  to  make  any  assertion  of  her  rights.  In 
1828  she  still  postponed  making  any  demand  and 
renewed  the  treaty,  well  knowing  that  the  little 
island  many  thousands  of  miles  across  the  Atlan- 
tic, was  the  supreme  ruler  of  all  the  vast  territory. 
Again,  when  the  Ashburton  Treaty  was  at  is- 
sue, and  the  question  of  boundary  which  had  been 
for  forty-eight  years  a  bone  of  contention,  the 
government  again  ignored  Oregon,  and  was  satis- 
lied  with  settling  the  boundaries  between  a  few 
farms  up  in  Maine. 

But  it  requires  no  argument  in  view  of  this  long 
continued  series  of  acts,  to  reach  the  c(mclusion 
tliat  American  interests  in  Oregon  Avere  endan- 
gered most  of  all  from  the  apatliy  and  ignorance 
of  our  own  statesmen. 

That  loyal  old  i)ioneer,  K'ev.  Jason  Lee,  the 
cliief  of  the  Methodist  Mission  in  Oregon,  visited 
Washington  in  18;}8  and  presented  the  conditi^ms 
of  the  country  and  its  dang<'rs  forcibly.  With 
funds  contributed  by  generous  friends  he  suc- 
ceeded in  taking  hack  with  him  (luite  a  dohHr... 


f.'i 


'>i 


1      ' 

it 

1 
• 

1 
'J 

r  )  • 

U 

i        N 


i; 


'I 


k 

m 

"**^''i 

IT 

m 

■s:  ■  A  ■ 


m 


I-  i  ■. 


l!       1 


■  I 


HI 


46  HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

tion  of  actual  settlers  for  Oregon.    But  neither 
Congress  nor  the  people  were  aroused. 

For  all  practical  purposes  Oregon  was  treated 
as  a  "foreign  land.''  There  was  not  even  a  show 
of  a  protectorate  over  the  few  Aniericaa  immi- 
grants who  had  gathered  the^e.  The  "American 
Hoard,"  which  sent  missionaries  only  to  foreign 
lands,  liad  charge  of  the  mission  tields,  and  care- 
fully secured  passports  for  their  missionaries  be- 
fore starting  them  upon  their  long  journey.  The 
Rev.  Myron  Eells  in  liis  interestinig  volume  en- 
titled "Father  Eells,''  gives  a  copy  of  the  passport 
issued  to  his  father.    It  records — 

"Tlie  Kev.  Casliing  Eells,  Missi(mary  and 
Teaclier  of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners 
for  Foreign  Missions  to  the  tribes  west  of  the 
Kocky  Mountains,  having  signilied  to  this  depart- 
ment his  desire  to  pass  through  the  Indian  Coun- 
try to  the  tN)lnmbia  Kiver,  and  requested  the  i^er- 
mission  required  by  law  to' enable  him  so  to  do, 
such  ;K'rmissi(m  is  hereby  granted;  and  he  is 
commended  to  the  friendly  attention  of  civil  and 
military  ngiMits  and  (jnicers  and  of  citizens,  if  at 
any  time  ii  shnll  be  necessary  to  his  protection, 
(liven  under  my  hand  and  llu'  seal  of  the  War 
Department  this  27th  day  of  February,  1838. 

"J.  U.POINSETT, 

"Secretary  of  War." 


1.       IS 


ENGLISH  OPINION.  47 

It  is  a  truth  HO  plain  a.s  to  need  uo  arguiueut 
that  (Inriiio-  all  these  eurlier  years  the  whole  effort 
of  the  fur  traders  had  beeu  to  deceive  all  nation- 
alities as  to  the  value  of  the  Northwestern  country, 
lu  their  selfishness  they  had  deceived  En-land  as 
well  as  America.     Their  idea  and  hope  was  to 
keep  out  em io ration.       But   Enojand  had  been 
better  informed  than  the  United  States,  for  the 
reason  that  all  the  commerce  was  witii  En-land, 
and  Enolish  capitalists  who  had  lar-e  interests' 
iu  the  Hudson^  Bay  Com])any,  very  naturallv  W(U'e 
better  informed,  but  even  they  were  n(»t  anxious 
for  Enj.lish  colonization  and  an  interference  with 
tiieir  bonanza. 

They  contn^lled  the  English  press,  and  so  late  as 
1S40  we  I'ead  in  tlu^  '^Jritish  and  Foreion  l{evi(nv  " 
that  ^^ui)on  the  whole,  therefore,  the  Oreoon  conn, 
try  holds  out  no  great  promise  as  an  agricultural 
held."  ^ 

The  Lond(»n  Examiner  in  1843  wonders  that 
"Ign<»rant  Americans"  were  "disi)()sed  to  quarrel 
<»ver  a  country,  the  whole  in  dispute  not  being 
worth  to  either  ]n\viy  twenty  thousand  pounds" 

Th<.  Edinburgh  {{..view,  gen..rallv  fair,  said: 
"Only  a  very  small  i.oiticm  of  the  land  is  capable 
of  niMivation.  It  is  a  case  in  which  the  AuuM-i- 
can  iMM.ph>  have  been  misled  as  (o  clinmte  and  soil. 
In  a  few  years  all  (hat  gives  life  to  the  country, 
l>oth  the  hunter  and  his  prey  will  be  e.xtinct,  and 


''"iW! 

1 

1 

- 

i 

I 

1 

1 

1 

f        '  f 

§ 

f 

i 

f& 

I 

;'» 


fl 

1       i 
f      f 

L         I 

•^^^^^1 

\  1 

n 

dWi: 

H 

'       If 

■J 

1 

!    1 

I 

I 

;.b, 

9 

11    iM 


ri: 


I  i 


48  HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

their  places  will  be  supplied  by  a  thin  white  and 
half-breed  population  scattered  along  the  fertile 
valleys  supported  by  pastures  instead  of  the  chase, 
and  gradually  degenerating  into  barbarism,  far 
more  offensive  than  backwoodsmen."  Our  Eng- 
lish friends,  it  may  be  observed,  had  long  had  a 
poor  opinion  of  "backwoodsmen." 

The  Edinburgh  Keview,  in  1843,  says:    "Ilow- 
over  the  political  question  between  England  and 
the  United  States  as  to  their  claim  on  Oregon 
shall  be  determined,  Oregon  will  never  be  colo- 
nized overland  from  the  United  States.   The  world 
must  assume  a  new  phase  before  the  American 
wagons  make  a  plain  road  to  the  Columbia  lUver." 
In  this  educating  work  of  the  English  press,  we 
can  easily  understand   how   public   o]>inion   was 
molded,  and  how  our  statesmen  were  misinformed 
and  misdirected.    It  was,  no  doubt,  largely  due  to 
the  shrewd  work  of  th(^  great  monopoly  in  Oregon 
backed  up  by  the  English  (lovernment.    Its  first 
object  was  to  keep  it  unsettled  as  long  as  possi- 
ble, for  on  that  depended  the  millions  for  the  llud- 
turn  Hay  (N)m])auy's  tn^sury,  but  beyoiul  that,  the 
government  ])lainly  depended  U])on  the  ])owerful 
organization  to  hold  all  the  land  as  a  British  pos- 
session. 

In  the  war  of  1S12,  one  of  the  first  moves  was 
to  dispatch  a  fleet  to  the  (Columbia,  with  orders, 


•I 


1 


I 


THE  OUTLOOK  GLOOMY. 


49 


as  the  record  shows,  "to  take  and  destroy  every- 
thing American  on  the  northwest  coast." 

The  prosperous  people  of  Oreo-on,  Washington 
and  Idaho  are  in  a  position  now  to  enjoy  such 
prophetic  fuhninations,  but  they  can  easily  see  the 
(Uingers  that  were  escaped.  It  was  a  double  dan- 
ger, danger  from  abroad  and  at  home,  and  of  tlie 
latter  most  of  all.  The  Nation  had  been  deceived. 
It  must  be  undeceived. 

The  outlook  was  not  hopeful.  The  year  1843 
had  been  usliered  in.  The  long-looked-for  and 
talked-of  treaty  had  been  signed,  and  Oregon 
again  ignored.  There  was  scarcely  a  shadow  t^ist 
of  coming  events  to  give  hope  to  the  friends  of 
far-away  Oregon. 

Suppose  some  watchman  from  the  dome  of  the 
Capitol  casting  his  eyes  westward  in  1843,  could 
have  seen  that  little  caravan  winding  through  val- 
leys and  over  the  hills  an<l  hurrying  eastward,  but 
who  would  dream  that  its  leader  was  "a  man  of 
destiny,"  bearing  messages  to  a  nation  soon  to  be 
aroused?  Of  how  little  or  how  much  importance 
was  this  messenger  or  his  message,  turn  to  "The 
Kide  to  Save  Oregon"  and  judge.  I?ut  certain 
it  is,  a  great  change,  bordering  on  revolution,  was 
portending. 


f 


H 


■'"  ih 


ral 


■  ""1  ': 


n* 


'1  i 


1i 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE  ROMANCE  OF  THE  OREGON  MISSION. 


These  pages  are  mainly  desij^ned  to  show  in 
brief  the  historical  and  political  ouvirouments  of 
Oregon  in  pioneer  days,  and  the  patriotic  services 
rendered  the  nation  by  Dr.  Marcus  Whitman.  But 
to  attempt  to  picture  this  life  and  omit  the  mis- 
sionary, would  be  like  reciting  the  play  of  Ham- 
let and  omitting  Hamlet. 

The  mission  work  to  the  Oregon  Indians  began 
in  a  romance  and  ended  in  a  great  tragedy.  The 
city  of  St.  Louis  in  tliat  day  was  so  near  the  border 
of  civilizati<m  that  it  was  accustomed  to  see  much 
of  the  rugged  and  wihl  life  of  the  plains;  yet  in 
1832  the  people  beheld  even  to  tliem  the  odd  sight 
of  four  Flathead  Indians  in  Indian  dress  and 
equipment  parading  their  principal  streets. 

General  (larke,  who  couiinaudcd  the  military 
post  of  that  city,  was  ]>romptly  uotilied  an<l  took 
the  strangers  in  charg(^    He  had  been  an  Indian 


THE  WHITE  MAN'S  BOOK  OF  LIFE.  51 

commissioner  for  many  years  in  the  far  West, 
knew  the  tribe  well  and  could  easily  communi- 
cate with  them.  With  it  all  he  was  a  good  friend 
to  the  Indians  and  at  once  made  arrangements  at 
the  fort  to  make  them  comfortable.  They  in- 
formed him  that  they  were  all  chiefs  of  the  tribe 
and  had  spent  the  entire  Summer  and  Fall  upon 
their  long  journey.  Their  wearied  manner  and 
wasted  appearance  told  the  fact  impressively, 
even  had  the  general  not  known  the  locality 
where  they  belonged. 

For  a  while  they  were  reticent  regarding  their 
mission,  as  is  usual  with  Indians;  but  in  due  time 
their  story  was  fully  revealed.  They  had  heard  of 
"The  White  Man's  P,ook  of  Life,"  and  had  come  "to 
hunt  for  it"  and  "to  ask  for  teachers  to  be  sent"  to 
their  tribe. 

To  Gen.  Clarke  this  was  a  novel  proposition  to 
come  in  that  way  from  wild  Indians.  Gen.  Clarke 
was  a  devoted  Catholic  and  treated  his  guests  as 
a  hunuine  and  hospitable  man.  After  they  wove 
rested  up  he  piloted  them  to  every  place  which  he 
thought  wifuld  entertain  and  interest  them.  Fre- 
<iueut  visits  were  made  to  Catholic  churches,  and 
to  theaters  and  shows  of  every  kind.  And  so  they 
spent  the  balance  of  the  Winter. 

During  this  time,  two  of  the  Indians,  from  the 
long  journey  and  possibly  from  over-eating  rich 
food,  to  which    they    were    unaccustomed,  wore 


i^'t  ( 


in 


'm; 


;,;j'iii 


ij  '•  < 

,^;  i>    J; 


f 


hi  !. 


'.i 


f1 

i 

i 

1    '■  ' 

.ji  •. 

I    i  i 

iji! 

52 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


i  i  m 


!1I 
.11 


1%     ! 


'     1 


taken  sick  and  died,  and  were  given  honored 
burial  by  the  soldiers.  When  the  early  Spring 
snn  began  to  shine,  the  two  remaining  Indians 
commenced  their  preparations  for  return  home. 

Gen.  Clarke  proposed  to  give  them  a  banquet 
upon  the  last  evening  of  their  sojourn,  and  start 
them  upon  their  way  loaded  with  all  the  comforts 
uG  could  give.  At  this  banquet  one  of  the  Indians 
made  a  speech.  It  was  that  speech,  brimming 
over  with  Indian  eloquence,  which  fired  the  Chris- 
tian hearts  of  the  Nation  into  a  new  life.  The 
speech  was  translated  into  English  and  thus 
doubtless  loses  much  of  its  charm. 

The  chief  said:  "I  come  to  you  over  the  trail  of 
many  moons  from  the  setting  sun.  You  were  the 
friends  of  my  fathers,  who  have  all  gone  the  long 
way.  I  came  with  an  eye  partly  open  tor  my  peo- 
ple, who  sit  in  darkness.  I  go  back  with  both  eyes 
closed,  now  can  I  go  back  blind,  to  my  blind  peo- 
ple? I  made  my  way  to  you  with  strong  arms 
through  many  enemies  and  strange  lands  that  I 
might  carry  back  much  to  thorn.  I  go  back  with 
both  arms  broken  and  empty.  Two  fathers  came 
with  us,  they  vrere  the  braves  of  many  winters  and 
wars.  We  leave  them  asleep  here  by  your  great 
water  and  wigwams.  They  were  tired  in  many 
moons  and  their  moccasins  wore  out. 

"My  people  sent  me  to  get  the  "White  Man's 
Book  of  Heaven."    You  took  me  to  where  you  al- 


ii Ml 


m 


THE  INDIAN'S  SPEECH. 


53 


low  your  women  to  dance  as  we  do  not  ours,  and 
the  book  was  not  there.    You  took  me  to  where 
they  worship  the  Great  Spirit  with  cauuies  and 
the  book  was  not  there.    You  showed  me  images 
of  the  good  spirits  and  the  pictures  of  the  good 
land  beyond,  but  the  book  was  not  among  them  to 
tell  us  the  way.    I  am  going  back  the  long  and  sad 
trail  to  my  people  in  the  dark  land.    You  make 
my  feet  heavy  with  gifts  and  my  moccasins  will 
grow  old  in  carrying  them,  yet  the  book  is  not 
among  them.     When  I  tell  my  poor  blind  people 
after  one  more  snow,  in  the  big  council,  that  I  did 
not  bring  the  book,  no  word  will  be  spoken  by  our 
old  men  or  by  our  young  braves.     One  by  one  they 
will  rise  up  and  go  out  in  silence.     My  people  will 
die  in  darkness,  and  they  will  go  a  long  path  to 
other  hunting  grounds.     No  white  man  will  go 
with  them,  and  no  White  Man's  Book  to  make  the 
way  plain.    I  have  no  more  words." 

When  this  speech  was  translated  and  sent  East 
it  was  published  in  the  Christian  Advocate  in 
March,  1833,  with  a  ringing  editorial  from  Presi- 
dent Fisk  of  ^Vilbraham  College.  "Who  will  re- 
spond to  go  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains  and 
carry  the  Book  of  Heaven?"  It  made  a  profound 
impression.  It  was  a  Macedonian  cry  of  "Come 
over  and  help  us,"  not  to  be  resisted.  Old  men  and 
women  who  read  this  call,  and  attended  the  meet- 
ings at  that  time,  are  still  living,  and  can  attest 


1 1 


r^'^}. 


U|. 


iiil 


54  HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

to  its  power.    It  stirred  the  clnirch  as  it  has  sel- 
dom been  stirred  into  activity. 

This  incident  of  tlie  appearance  in  St.  Louis  and 
demand  of  the  fonr  Flathead  Indians  has  been 
so  fully  verified  in  history  as  to  need  no  addi- 
tional proof  to  silence  modern  sceptics  who  have 
ridicrled  ic.  All  the  earli'/r  histories  such  as 
"Gray's  History  of  Ores,n)n,"  "Heed's  Mission  of  the 
Methodist  Church,"  Governor  Simpson's  narrative, 
Barrow's  "Oreoon,"  Parkman's  "Oregon  Trail," 
with  the  correspondence  of  the  Lees,  verified  the 
truth  of  the  occurrence. 

Bancroft,  in  his  thirty-eijiht-volume  history,  in 
volume  1,  page  579,  says,  "Hearing  of  the  Chris- 
tians and  how  heaven  favors  them,  four  Flathead 
Indian  chiefs,  in  1832,  went  to  St.  Louis  and  asked 
for  teachers,"  etc.    As  this  latter  testimony  is  from 
a  source  which  discredited  missionary  work,  as  we 
shall  show  in  another  chapter,  it  is  good  testimony 
upon  the  point.    Some  modern  doubters  have  also 
ridiculed  the  speech  reported  to  have  been  made 
by  the  Indian  chief.     Those  wdio  know  Indians 
best  will  bear  testimony  to  its  genuineness. 

Almost  every  tribe  of  Indians  has  its  orator  and 
story-teller,  aiid  s<mie  of  them  as  famous  ii?  their 
way  as  the  Beechers  and  Phillipses  and  Depews, 
among  the  wliites,  or  the  Douglasses  and  Lang- 
stons  among  the  negroes. 

In  1851  the  writer  of  this  book  was  purser  upon 


ll 


m 


AN  INCIDENT  IN  OREGON, 


55 


the  steanior  Lot  Whitconib,  which  rrn  between 
Milwaukee  and  Astoria,  Orejjjon.  One  beautiful 
morniufij  I  wandered  a  mile  or  more  down  the 
beach  and  was  seated  upon  the  sand,  watchinijj 
the  great  combers  as  they  rolled  in  from  the  Pa- 
citic,  which,  after  a  storiri,  is  an  (^specially  jjjrand 
sij-ht;  wlwn  sud<lenly,  as  if  he  had  aris(m  from  the 
ground,  an  Indian  appeared  near  by  and  accosted 
me.  lie  was  a  line  speidmen  of  a  savage,  clean 
and  well  dressed.  He  evidently  knew  wiio  I  was 
and  my  position  on  the  steamer  and  had  followed 
me  to  make  his  plea.  With  a  toss  of  his  arm  and 
a  motion  of  his  body  he  threw  the  fold  of  his 
blanket  across  his  left  shoulder  as  gracefully  as  a 
lioman  Senator  could  have  done,  and  began  his 
speech.  "Ily-iu  hyas  kloshe  Boston,  Boston  hy-iu 
stean:l>oat  hy-iu  cuitan.  Indian  halo  steamboat, 
halo  cuitan."  It  was  a  rare  mixture  of  English 
words  with  the  Chinook,  which  I  easily  understood. 

The  burtlien  of  his  speech  was,  the  greatness 
and  richness  and  goodness  of  white  m(?n;  (they 
called  all  white  men  Boston  men);  they  owned  all 
the  steamboats  and  horses;  that  the  Indians  were 
very  poor;  that  his  squaw  and  pappoose  were  away 
up  the  Willamette  river,  so  far  away  that  his  moc- 
casins would  be  worn  out  before  he  could  reach 
their  wigwam;  that  he  had  no  money  and  wanted 
to  ride. 

I  have  heard  the  great  orators  of  the  nation  in 


wip 

H 

1 

i 

1 

'■ 

^ 

; 

-'h 

'■     1 

t) 

,•1 

»  i 

,  » 
{ 

ii^ 

111 

I 


■  I 


i^^^l 

I   \- 


56 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


the  pulpit  and  halls  of  legislation,  but  I  never  lis- 
tened to  a  more  eloquent  plea,  or  saw  gestures 
more  graceful  tlian  were  those  of  that  wild  Wasco 
Indian,  of  which  I  alone  was  the  audience. 

Another  interesting  historical  scrap  of  the  ro- 
mantic history  of  these  Flathead  chiefs  is  fur- 
nished  in  the  fact  that  the  celebrated  Indian  artist, 
George  Catlin,  was  on  one  of  his  tours  in  the  West 
taking  sketches  in  the  spring  of  1833.  Soon  after 
their  leaving  St.  Louis  he  dropped  in  with  the  two 
Indians  on  their  return  journey  and  traveled  with 
tliem  for  some  days,  taking  pictures  of  both,  and 
they  are  now  numbers  207  and  208  in  his  great  col- 
lection. 

Upon  his  return  east  he  read  the  Indian  speech, 
and  of  the  excitement  it  had  caused,  and  not  hav- 
ing been  told  by  the  Indians  of  the  cause  of  their 
journey,  and  wishing  to  be  assured  that  he  had  ac- 
cidentally struck  a  great  historic  prize  in  securing 
the  pictures,  he  sat  down  and  wrote  Gen.  Clarke 
at  St.  Louis,  asking  him  if  the  speech  was  true 
and  the  story  correct.  Gen.  Clarke  promptly  re- 
plied, "The  story  is  true;  that  was  the  only  ob- 
ject of  their  visit."  Taken  in  connection  with  the 
after  history,  no  two  pictures  in  any  collection 
have  a  deeper  or  grander  significance. 

We  may  add  here  that  within  a  month  after 
leaving  St.  Louis,  one  of  the  Indians  was  taken 


M 


bO 


oa  O 

o  Z 


(JJ    to 


38 


'il 


!l,i 


tl 


m\ 


'y'^\ 


■ill 


*•■'! 


It; 

1 

■ 

h'    M 

H 

1 

1              ii'- 

H 

"         l;|i 

1 

II 


tl 

T 

tl] 


ro 


JO 
ai 
di; 
ti( 
on 
foi 
Ai 


THE  FLATHEADS. 


67 


sick  and  died,  and  but  one  reached  his  home  in 
safety. 

When  I  reached  Oreo-on  in  1850,  the  first  tribe 
of  Indians  I  visited  in  their  home  was  the  Flat- 
heads.  I?ut  whether  the  story  is  true  in  all  its 
minutiae  or  not,  it  matters  but  little.  It  was  be- 
lieved true,  and  produced  grand  results.  It  can 
hardly  be  said,  from  the  standpoint  of  the  Chris- 
tian missionary,  that  the  work  ii  Oregon  was  a 
grand  success.  And  yet,  never  were  missionaries 
more  heroic,  or  that  labored  in  any  field  with 
greater  lidelity  for  the  true  interests  of  the  Indian 
savages  to  whom  tliey  were  sent. 

They  were  great,  warm-hearted,  intelligent,  edu- 
cated,  earnest  men  and  women,  who  endured  pri- 
vatiou,  isolation  and  d-'scomfort  with  cheerfulness, 
that  they  might  teach  Christianity  and  save  souls! 
There  was  no  failure  from  any  incompetency  of 
the  teachers,  but  from  complications  and  sur- 
roundings hopelessly  beyond  their  power  to 
change. 

They  brought  wilh  them  over  their  long,  weary 
journey  the  liible,  Christianity  and  civilization, 
and  the  school.  They  were  met  at  first  with  a  cor- 
dial reception  by  the  Indians,  but  a  great  corpora- 
tion, dependent  upon  the  steel  trap  and  coutinu- 
<Mis  savage  life,  soon  showed  its  hand.  It  was  a 
foreign  un-American  opposition.  It  had  met  every 
American  company  that  had  attempted  to  share  in 


[    .. 


1  'fmi' 
1   "*  i 

*'  i*.a 

'♦ 


i  I 


;■  It  I, ' 

■    i  •" 

'1  if  I'i 

'1  i 


Ui^t^ 

m 

i 

w 

1 

gg  HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

the  business  promoted  by  savage  life,  and  routed 
them.  The  missionaries  were  wide-awalve  men  and 
were  quick  to  see  the  drift  of  affairs. 

Dr.  Whitman  early  foresaw  what  was  to  haw- 
pen.  He  saw  the  possibilities  of  the  country  ani. 
that  the  first  battle  was  between  the  schoolhouse 
and  civilization,  and  the  tepee  and  savagery.  lie 
resolved  to  do  everything  possible  for  the  Indian 
before  it  began.  In  a  letter  to  his  father-in-law, 
dated  May  10, 1844,  from  WaiDatpui,  he  says: 

"It  does  not  concern  me  so  much  what  is  to  be- 
come of  any  ])articular  set  of  Indians,  as  to  give 
them  the  offer  of  salvation  through  the  Gospel, 
and  the  opportunity  of  civilization,  and  then  I  am 
content  to  do  good  to  all  men  as  I  have  opportu- 
nity. I  have  no  doubt  our  greatest  work  is  to  be 
to  aid  the  white  settlement  of  this  country  and 
help  to  found  its  religious  institutions.  Provi- 
dence has  its  full  share  in  all  those  events.  Al- 
though the  Indians  have  made,  and  are  making 
rapid  advance  in  religious  knowledge  and  civiliza- 
ticm,  yet  it  cannot  be  hoped  that  time  will  be  al- 
lowed to  mature  the  work  of  riiristianizatiou  or 
civilization  before  white  settlers  will  demand  the 
soil  and  the  removal  both  of  the  Indians  and  the 
Missions. 

"WliJit  Americans  desire  of  this  kind  they  al- 
ways effect,  and  it  is  useless  to  oppose  or  desire  it 
otherwise.    To  guide  as  far  as  can  be  done,  and  di- 


WHITMAN'S   LETTER. 


59 


rect  these  tendencies  for  the  best,  is  evidently  the 
part  of  wisdom.  Indeed,  I  am  fully  convinced 
that  when  people  refuse  or  neglect  to  fill  the  de- 
sign of  Providence,  they  ought  not  to  complain  at 
the  results,  and  so  it  is  equally  useless  for  Chris- 
tiaus  to  be  over-anxious  on  their  account. 

"The  Indians  have  in  no  case  obeyed  the  com- 
mand to  multiply  and  replenish  the  earth,  and 
they  cannot  stand  in  the  way  of  others  doing  so. 
A  place  will  be  left  them  to  do  this  as  fully  as  their 
ability  to  obey  will  permit,  and  the  more  we  do 
f(u-  them  the  more  fully  will  this  be  realized.  No 
exclusiveness  can  be  asked  for  any  portion  of  the 
humar  family.  The  exercise  of  his  rights  are  all 
that  can  be  desired.  In  order  for  this  to  be  un- 
derstood to  its  proper  extent,  in  regard  to  the  In- 
dians, it  is  necessary  that  they  seek  to  preserve 
their  rights  by  peaceable  means  only.  Any  viola- 
tion of  this  rule  will  be  visited  with  only  evil  re- 
sults to  themselves." 

This  letter  from  Dr.  AVhitman  to  his  wife's 
father,  dated  about  seven  months  after  his  retui-n 
from  his  memorable  "Hide  to  Save  Oregon,"  is  for 
the  first  time  made  public  in  the  published  trans- 
actions of  the  State  Historical  Society  of  Oregon 
in  1803.  It  is  important  from  the  fact  that  it  gives 
a  complete  key  to  the  life  and  acts  of  this  silent 
man  and  his  motives  for  the  part  he  took  in  the 
great  historic  drama,  in  Avhich  the  statesmen  of 


I 


:l^  : 


'>  |lKI 


'I 

u 

3 


I 


M 


'.1 


60 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


the  two  nations  were  to  be  the  actors,  with  mil- 
lions of  people  the  interested  audience. 

In  another  place  we  will  show  how  Whitman 
has  been  misrepresented  by  modern  historians, 
and  an  attempt  made  to  deprive  him  of  all  honor, 
and  call  attention  to  the  above  record,  all  the  more 
valuable  because  never  intended  for  the  public  eye 
when  written. 

In  the  same  letter  Whitman  says,  "As  I  hold  the 
settlement  of  this  country  by  Americans,  rather 
than  by  English  colonists,  most  important,  I  am 
happy  to  have  been  the  means  of  landing  so  large 
an  immigration  on  the  shores  of  the  Columbia 
with  their  wagons,  families  and  stock,  all  in 
safety." 

Such  sentiments  reveal  only  the  broad-minded, 
far-seeing  Christian  man,  who,  though  many  thou- 
sand miles  away  from  its  protecting  influence,  still 
loved  "The  banner  of  beauty  and  glory."  He  had 
gone  to  Oregon  -\ith  only  a  desire  to  teach  savages 
Christianity;  but  saw  in  the  near  future  the  in- 
evitable, and,  without  lessening  his  interest  in  his 
savage  pupils,  he  entered  the  broader  field. 

Who  can  doubt  that  botli  were  calls  from  a 
power  higher  tlian  man?  Or  who  can  point  to  an 
instance  upon  historic  pages  where  the  great  work 
assigned  was  prosecuted  with  greater  fidelity? 
Having  accomplished  a  feat  unparalleled  for  its 
heroism  and  without  a  break  in  its  grand  success. 


NOT  AN  ACCIDENT. 


61 


he  makes  no  report  of  it  to  any  state  or  national 
organization,  but  while  he  talked  freely  with  his 
friends  of  his  work  it  is  only  now,  after  he  has 
rested  for  forty-seven  and  more  years,  that  this 
modest  letter  written  to  his  wife's  father  at  the 
time,  strongly  reveals  his  motives. 

Having  accomplished  his  great  undertaking,  he 
was  still  the  missionary  and  friend  of  the  Indians, 
and  at  once  dropped  back  to  his  work,  and  the 
drudgery  of  his  Indian  mission. 

Again  we  find  him  enlarging  his  field  of  work, 
teaching  his  savage  friends,  not  only  Christianity' 
but  how  to  sow,  and  plant,  and  reap,  and  build 
houses,  and  prepare  for  civilization.  He  took  no 
part  in  the  new  political  life  which  he  had  made 
possible.  He  was  a  stranger  to  all  things  except 
those  which  concerned  the  work  he  was  called  to 
do.  In  his  letter  he  speaks  of  earnestly  desiring 
to  return  East  and  bring  out  the  second  company 
of  immigrants  the  coming  Spring,  but  the  needs 
of  his  mission,  liis  wasted  fields,  and  his  mill 
burned  during  his  absence,  seemed  to  demand  his 
presence  at  home. 

The  world  speaks  of  this  event  and  that,  as  "It 
so  happened."  They  will  refer  to  the  advent  of 
the  Flathead  Indians  in  St.  Louis  in  1832,  as  "It 
so  happened."  The  more  thoughtful  readers  of 
history  find  fewer  things  "accide.  tal."  In  this 
great  historic  romance  the  Flathead  Indians  were 


nvi 


!'S  it 


M 


I 


.'I 


i 


■  '-nil 

8  i 


*;i 


62  HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

not  an  accident.  The  American  Board,  the  Meth- 
odist Board,  Dr.  Whitman  and  Jason  Lee,  and 
their  co-worl^ers,  were  not  accidents.  They  were 
all  men  inspired  to  a  specific  work,  and  having 
entered  upon  it,  the  field  widened  into  dimensions 
of  unforeseen  grandeur,  whose  benefits  the  Nation 
has  never  yet  beflttingly  acknowledged. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


THE  WEDDING  JOURNEY  ACROSS   THE   PLAINS. 


The  roinauce  of  the  Orej-on  Mission  did  not  end 
with  the  call  of  the  Flutheii^i  Indians.  This  was 
savaj»e  romance,  that  of  civilization  followed. 

The  Methodists  sent  the  Lees  in  1834,  and  the 
American  Hoard  tried  to  "et  the  rij»ht  men  for  the 
work  to  accompany  them,  but  failed.  But  in  1835 
they  sent  Dr.  Marcus  Whitman  and  the  Kev.  Sam- 
uel Parker  to  Oregon  upon  a  trip  of  discovery,  to 
find  out  the  real  conditions,  present  iind  prospec- 
tive. 

They  o(,t  an  early  start  in  1835  and  reached 
(Jreen  KMver,  where  they  met  large  bodies  of  In- 
dians and  Indian  traders,  and  were  made  fully  ac- 
<puunted  with  the  situation.  The  Indians  gave 
large  promises,  and  the  Held  seemed  wide  and  in- 
viting. Upon  consultation  it  was  agreed  that  Dr. 
Whitman  should  return  to  the  States  and  report  to 
the  American  Board,  while  Dr.  Parker  should  go 
on  to  the  Columbia.  Two  Indian  boys  from  the 
Pacific  Coast,  Ilichard  and  John,  volunteered  to 


it"1 


bin'    '''I 


\'i  1 


-.  MiHr 


I    ii 


\   . 


64  HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

return  with  Dr.  Whitman  and  come  back  with  him 

the  following  year.  ^   ,  ,  • 

The  Doctor  and  his  Indian  boys  reached  his 
home  in  Kushville,  New  York,  late  on  Saturday 
night  in  November,  and  not  making  known  the 
event  to  his  family,  astonished  the  congregation 
in  his  church  by  walking  up  the  aisle  with  his  In- 
dians, and  calling  out  an  audible  exclamation 
from  his  good  old  mother,  "Well,  there  is  Marcus 

Whitman." 

Upon  the  report  of  Dr.  Whitman  the  American 
Board  resolved  to  at  once  occupy  the  field.    Dr. 
Whitman   had   long   been   engaged   to   be   mar- 
ried to  Miss  Narcissa  Prentice,  the  daughter  of 
Judo-e  Prentice,  of  Prattsburg,  New  York,  who 
waslis  much  of  an  enthusiast  in  the  Oregon  Indian 
Mission  work  as  the  Doctor  himself.    The  Ameri- 
can Board  thought  it  unwise  to  send  the  young 
couple  alone  on  so  distant  a  journey,  and  at  once 
began  the  search  for  company.    The  wedding  day, 
which  had  been  fixed,  was  postponed,  and  valuable 
time  was  passing,  and  uo  suitable  parties  would 
volunteer  for  the  work,  "hen  its  trials  and  dan- 
gers were  explained. 

The  Board  had  received  word  that  the  Rev.  11. 
H.  Spalding,  who  had  recently  married,  was  then 
with  his  wife  on  his  way  to  the  Osage  Mission  to 
enter  up(»n  a  new  field  of  work.  It  was  in  January 
and  Whitman  took  to  the  road  in  his  sleigh  in  pur- 


MRS.  SPALDING'S  DECISION. 


65 


suit  of  the  traveling  missionaries.  He  overtook 
them  near  the  village  of  Hudson  and  hailed  them 
in  his  cheery  way: 

"Ship  ahoy,  you  are  wanted  for  the  Oregon 
Mission." 

After  a  short  colloquy  they  drove  on  to  the  hotel 
of  the  little  village.  There  the  subject  was  can- 
vassed and  none  of  its  dangers  hidden.  Mr.  Spald- 
ing promptly  made  up  his  mind,  and  said: 

"My  dear,  I  do  not  think  it  your  duty  to  go,  but 
we  will  leave  it  to  you  after  we  have  prayed." 

Mrs.  Spalding  asked  to  be  left  alone,  and  in  ten 
minutes  she  appeared  with  a  beaming  face  and 
said:    "I  have  made  up  my  mind  to  go." 

"But  your  health,  my  dear?" 

"I  like  the  command  just  as  it  stands,"  says  Mrs. 
Spalding,  "Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the 
Gospel,  with  no  exceptions  for  poor  health." 

Others  referred  to  the  hardships  and  dangers 
and  terrors  of  the  journey,  but  Dr.  Spalding  says: 
"They  all  did  not  move  her  an  iota." 

Such  was  the  party  for  the  wedding  journey.  It 
did  look  like  a  dangerous  journey  for  a  Avomau  who 
had  been  many  months  an  invalid,  but  events 
proved  Mrs.  Spalding  a  real  lieroine,  witli  a  cour- 
age and  pluck  scarcely  equaled,  and  under  the 
circumstances  never  excelled.  Having  turned  her 
face  toward  Oregon  she  never  hjoked  back  and 
never  was  heard  to  murmur  or  regret  her  decision. 


I  ( 


>v 


n    I' 


1 


if  ^ 


66  HOW  MAHCITS  WHITMAN  SAVKI)  OURCON. 

TUisdillicnKy  Ix'in.i'' hmmovcmI,  J  lie  da;  wns  sifiain 
sol  for  Hio  iMiin'iii.i'v  of  Dr.  Wliihiuin  jmd  Miss 
Prontiro,  wliicli  ((»ok  phut'  in  I'cbruiiry,  1S:J(;.  AH 
jiutliorHicH  iiiiirU  Njuvissa  Pr*  Til'<'e  jih  a  woman  of 
oroat  force  of  chMrjictcr. 

Slio  was  I  he  adored  daujilHcr  of  a  rolinod  (Miris- 
(ian  luuno  and  iiad  the  lovo  of  a  wi«lo  circl*'  of 
friends.  She  was  ilu'  soi)rano  sln«»vr  in  I  \\o  clioir  of 
tho  villa.iiv  (lunrh  of  wliidi  slio  and  her  family 
wcro  nuMnbcrs. 

In  tiio  volnmo  of  tho  ma^ay.ino  of  American  His- 
tory for  1SS4,  (he  (ulitor,  (lie  la(e  Miss  Miir(ha  J. 

Lamb,  says: 

"The  voice  of  Miss  Prentice  was  of  remarlcs.ble 
sweetness.  She  was  a  <»racefnl  blonde,  s(ately  and 
dio-nified  in  her  bearinii',  wilhonl  a  i>arlicle  of  af- 
fectation." Says  Miss  Lamb:  '^When  preparing' 
to  leave  for  Oregon  (he  chnrch  held  a  farewell 
service  and  (he  nunisler  ^ave  on(  the  well-known 
by  mil : 

'Yes,  my  nativo  lind  I  lovo  thee. 

All  thy  scones  1  love  them  well; 
Frienrts"  eonnection,  happy  oountry, 
Can  I  bid  you  all  farewell?' 

"The  whole  conjirenalion  joiiuul  heartily  in  the 
sinuinii',  but  before  the  hymn  was  half  tlironj^h, 
one  by  one  they  ceased  siniiinji"  and  andible  sobs 
were  heard  in  ovovy  part  of  the  p-eat  audience. 
The  last  stanza  was  sung  b.>   the  sweet  voice  of 


LEAVING  HOME. 


67 


Mrs.  Whitman  alone,  cloar,  musical  and  iinwav- 
eri  «!:••." 

One  of  the  pleasant  thin}>s  since  it  was  an- 
nounced that  lliese  sketches  would  be  written,  is 
the  number  oi  i>eo[)le,  that  before  were  unknown, 
who  have  volunteered  charming-  personal  sketches 
of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Whitiuau. 

A  venerable  friend  Avho  often,  he  fears,  attended 
<'hnrch  more  for  the  songs  of  Miss  I'rentice  than 
for  the  sermons,  was  also  at  their  wedding.  The 
venerable  eT.  S.  J^eeley,  of  Aurora,  Illinois,  writes: 
"It  was  just  fifty-nine  years  ago  this  March  since 
I  drove  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Whitman  from  Elmira,  N.  Y., 
to  Ilollidaysburg,  Pa.,  in  my  sleigh.  This  place 
was  at  the  foot  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains  (east 
side)  on  the  Pennsylvania  canal.  The  canal  boats 
were  built  in  two  sections  and  were  taken  over 
the  mountains  on  a  railroad. 

"They  expected  to  find  the  canal  open  on  the 
west  side  and  thus  reach  the  Ohio  Kiver  on  the 
way  to  Oregon.  I  was  with  them  some  seven  days. 
Dr.  Whitman  impressed  me  as  a  man  of  strong 
sterling  character  and  lots  of  push,  but  he  was 
not  a  great  talker.  Mrs.  Wl:itman  was  of  medium 
size  aiid  impressed  me  as  a  woman  of  great  resolu- 
tion." 

A  younger  sister  of  the  bride,  Mrs.  H.  P.  Jack- 
son, of  Oberliu,  Ohio,  writes:  "Mrs.  Whitman 
was  the  mentor  of  her  younger    sisters    in    the 


'M< 


l*'l( 


>Nl1 


>i''* 


Mf1« 


ItW 


68  HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

home.  She  joined  the  church  when  eleven  years 
old,  and  from  her  early  years  expressed  a  desire 
to  be  a  missionary.  The  wedding  occurred  in  the 
church  at  Angelica,  N.  Y.,  to  which  place  my 
father  had  removed,  and  the  ceremony  was  per- 
formed by  the  llev.  Everett  Hull.  I  recollect  how 
deeply  interested  the  two  Indian  boys  were  in 
the  ceremonv,  and  how  their  faces  brightened 
when  the  doctor  told  them  that  Mrs.  Whitman 
would  go  back  with  them  to  Oregon.  We  all  had 
the  greatest  faith  and  trust  in  Dr.  Whitman,  and 
in  an  our  letters  from  our  dear  sister  there  was 
never  a  word  of  regret  or  repining  at  the  life  she 

had  chosen." 

The  two  Indian  boys  were  placed  in  school  and 
learned  to  read  and*^  speak  English    during   the 

Winter. 

The  journey  down  the  Ohio  and  up  the  Missis- 
sippi and  Missouri  Rivers  was  tedious,  but  un- 
eventful. 

Those  who  navigated  the  Missouri  River,  fifty 
years  ago,  have  not  forgotten  its  snags  and  sand 
bars,  which  caused  a  constant  chattering  of  the 
bells  in  the  engineer's  room  from  morning  until 
evening,  and  all  through  the  night,  unless  the  pru- 
dent captain  tied  up  to  the  shore.  The  man  and  his 
"lead  line"  was  constantly  on  the  prow  singing 
out  "twelve  feet,"  "quarter  past  twain,"  then  sud- 
denly "six  feet,"  when  the  bells  would  ring  out  as 


LEFT  BEHIND. 


69 


the  boat's  nose  would  bury  in  the  concealed  sand- 
bar. 

But  the  party  safely  reached  its  destination,  and 
was  landed  with  all  its  effects,  wagons,  stock  and 
outfit. 

The  company  was  made  up  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Whit- 
man, Kev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spalding,  H.  H.  Gray,  two 
teamsters  and  the  two  Indian  boys. 

The  American  Fur  Company,  which  was  send- 
ing out  a  convoy  to  their  port  in  Oregon,  had 
promised  to  start  from  Council  Bluffs  upon  a  given 
date,  and  make  them  welcome  memoers  of  the 
company.  It  was  a  large  company  made  up  of 
two  hundred  men  and  six  hundred  animals.  On 
the  journey  in  from  Oregon,  in  1835,  cholera  had 
attacked  the  company,  and  Dr.  Whitman  had  ren- 
dered such  faithful  and  efficient  service  that  they 
felt  under  obligations  to  him.  But  they  had  heard 
there  were  to  be  women  along  and  the  old  moun- 
taineers did  not  want  to  be  bothered  with  women 
upon  such  a  journey,  and  they  moved  out 
promptly  without  waiting  for  the  doctor's  party, 
which  had  been  delayed. 

When  Dr.  Whitman  reached  Council  Bluffs  and 
found  them  gone,  he  was  greatly  disturbed.  There 
was  nothing  to  do  but  make  forced  marches  and 
catch  the  train  before  it  reached  the  more  danger- 
ous Indian  country.  Dr.  Spalding  would  have 
liked  to  have  found  it  an  excuse  to  return  home, 


,?:|'|11 

ii';:;:il 


imn* 


Ml'**     ' 


I    ^ 


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■r;'  " 


iCi 


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i 

^^ ' 

''    ^ 

70  HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

but  Mrs.  Sp.aiaiiig-  remarked:    "I  have  started  to 
the  Rocky  Mountains  and  I  expect  to  go  there." 

Spalding  in  a  dressing  gown  in  his  study,  or 
in  a  city  pulpit,  would  have  been  in  his  element, 
but  he  was  not  especially  marked  for  an  Indian 
missionary.  Early  in  the  campaign  a  Missouri 
cow  kicked  him  otf  the  ferryboat  into  the  river. 
The  ague  racked  every  bone  in  his  body,  and  a 
Kansas  tornado  at  one  time  lifted  both  his  tent  and 
his  blanket  and  left  him  helpless.  He  seemed  to 
catch  every  disaster  that  came  along.  A  man  nmy 
have  excellent  points  in  his  make-up,  as  Dr.  Spald- 
ing had,  and  yet  not  be  a  good  pioneer. 

He  and  his  noble  wife  made  a  grand  success, 
however,  when  they  got  into  the  field  of  work.  It 
was  Mrs.  Si)ahling  who  first  translated  Hible 
truths  and  (Miristiau  songs  into  the  Indian  dialect. 
It  seemed  a  discouraging  start  for  the  little 
company  when  compelled  to  pull  out  upon  the 
boundh'ss  ]dains  alone.  But  led  by  Whitman,  they 
jKM'severed  and  caught  the  convoy  late  in  May. 

Tlie  doctor's  boys  now  proved  of  good  service. 
They  were  ])atient  and  untiring  and  at  home  on 
tlie  trnil.  They  took  charge  of  all  the  h)ose  stock. 
The  cows  they  were  taking  ah)ng  would  be  of  great 
value  ui)on  reaching  their  destination,  and  they 
proved  to  be  of  value  along  the  journey  as  well,  as 
milk  supjtliers  for  t lie  little  party. 

The  first  part  of  the  journey  Mrs.  Whitman  rode 


TRIALS  OF  THE  JOURNEY. 


71 


mainly  in  the  wagon  with  Mrs.  Spalding,  who  was 
not  strong  enough  for  horseback  riding.  But 
soon  she  took  to  her  pony  and  liked  it  so  miieh  bet- 
ter, that  she  rode  nearly  all  the  way  on  horseback. 
They  were  soon  initiated  into  the  trials  and  dan- 
gers of  the  jonrney. 

On  May  J)th  Mrs.  Whitman  writes  in  her  diary: 

"We  had  great  difficulty  to-day.  Husband  be- 
came so  c(mipletely  exhausted  with  swimming  the 
river,  that  it  was  with  difticulty  lie  made  the  shore 
th(»  last  time.  We  had  but  one  cancse,  made  of 
skins,  and  that  was  partly  eaten  by  the  dogs  the 
night  before." 

She  speaks  of  "meeting  large  bodies  of  Pawnee 
Indian;:,"  and  says: 

"They  seemed  very  much  surprised  and  pleased 
to  see  white  women.  Thev  were  noble  looking  In- 
dians. 

"We  attempted,  by  a  hard  march,  to  reach  Loup 
Fork.  Tiie  wagons  got  there  at  eleven  at  niglii, 
but  husban<l  and  I  rode  with  the  Indian  beys  until 
nine  o'clock,  when  Ki.hard  ])ro])osed  tbat  we  go 
on  and  tiiey  wouhl  stay  with  the  loose  catth*  u])on 
tlie  piiiirie,  and  drive  them  in  early  in  the  morn- 
ing. We  did  lutt  like  to  leave  them  and  conchuh'd 
to  stay.  Husband  had  a  cup  tied  to  his  sad<ne, 
and  in  this  lie  milked  what  we  wanted  to  drink; 
this  was  our  sup|>er.  Our  saddle-l)lankels  with 
our  rubber-cloaks  were  our  beds.    Having  oll'ered 


'  1 

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1 

72  HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

tlianksgiviug  for  the  blessinpfs  of  the  day,  and 
seekiiif^-  protection  for  the  night,  we  comniittecl 
ourselves  to  rest.  We  awoke  refreshed  and  rode 
into  camp  before  breakfast." 

Here  they  caught  up  with  the  Fur  Company 
caravan,  after  nearly  a  month's  traveling.  These 
brave  women,  with  their  kindness  and  tact,  soon 
won  the  good-will  and  friendship  of  the  old  plains- 
men, and  every  vestige  of  opposition  to  having 
women  in  the  train  disappeared  and  every  possi- 
ble civilitv  and  courtesy  was  extended  to  them. 
One  far-seeing  old  American  trader,  who  had  felt 
the  iron  lieel  of  the  English  Company  beyon<l  the 
Stony  Mountains,  pointing  to  the  little  missionary 
baud,  prophetically  remarked:  "There  is  some- 
thing that  the  Ihmorable  Hudson  Bay  Company 
cannot  drive  out  of  Oregon." 

In  her  diary  of  the  journey,  Mrs.  Whitman  never 
expresses  a  fear,  and  yet  remembering  my  own 
se!isation-s  u])on  the  same  journey,  I  can  scarcely 
conceive  that  two  delicately  nurtured  women 
would  not  be  subjected  to  great  anxieties. 

The  IMatte  Kiver,  in  that  day,  was  but  litth'  un- 
derstood and  looked  much  worse  than  it  really 
was.  Where  fonh'd  it  was  a  mile  wide,  and  not 
often  more  than  breast  <loe])  to  the  horses.  Two 
men,  on  the  best  horses,  rodo  tifty  yards  in  advance 
of  the  wagons,  zig-zagging  u])  and  down,  while  the 
head-driver  kept  an  eye  open  for  the  shallowest 


1 


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DR.   MARCUS  WHITMAN. 

NM(.i.'nircor  l)r    \Vl.iii„nn  is  iiMvisi,.,,.', 


•'""">•  "1 wiM \^.'^'^M::::u■n:::,n:::^  ""• 


i  f. 


nv% 


f* 


THE  PLATTE. 


73 


water  and  kept  upon  the  bar.  In  doino-  this  a  train 
would  sometimes  have  to  travel  nearly  tAvice  the 
distance  of  the  width  of  the  river  to  get  across. 
The  bed  of  the  river  is  made  of  shiftiuo^sand,  and 
a  team  is  not  allowed  to  stop  for  a  moment,  or  it 
will  steadily  settle  down  and  go  out  of  sight. 

A  balky  team  or  a  break  in  the  harness  requires 
prompt  r.^lief  or  all  will  be  lost.  But  after  all  the 
Platte  River  is  remembered  by  all  old  plainsmen 
with  a  blessing.  For  three  hundred  miles  it  ad- 
ministered to  the  •  nnfort  of  the  pioneers. 

It  is  even  doubtful  whether  they  could  have 
gone  the  journey  had  it  not  been  for  the  Platte, 
as  it  rolls  its  sands  down  into  the  Missouri.  The 
water  is  turbid  with  sand  at  all  times,  as  the  winds 
in  their  wide  sweep  across  sandy  plains  perpetu- 
ally add  to  its  supply.  But  the  water  when  dipped 
up  over  night  and  the  sand  allowed  to  settle,  is 
clear  and  pure  and  refreshing. 

The  pioneers,  however,  took  the  Platte  water  as 
it  ran,  often  remarking:  "In  this  country  a  fellow 
needs  sand  and  the  Platte  Avas  built  to  furnish  it." 
In  June  Mrs.  Whitman  writes:  *'W(.  are  now  in 
the  buffalo  country  and  my  husbnnd  and  I  relish 
it;  he  has  a  different  way  of  cooking  every  part 
of  the  animal." 

Mrs.  Wliif  ,;au  makes  the  following  entry  in  her 
diar\,  for  ih<'  benelit  of  her  young  sisters: 

"Xow,  !L  .".ad  E.,  you  must  not    think  it  very 


Mil 


w  !« 


#-^ 


m 


li 


4 


i 


1  i  w 


74  HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

hrrd  to  have  to  -ot  up  so  early  after  sleeping  on 
the  soft  groiiiul,  when  you  find  it  hard  work  to 
open  your  eyes  at  seven  o'clock.    Just   think   o 
me  every  nLorning.    At  the  word  'Arise!'  we  all 
sprino-   While  the  horses  are  f eedinj;-  we  get  break- 
fast  in  a  hnrrv  and  eat  it.    By  that  time  the  words 
'C^atch  up,  catch  up,'  vinj?  throu-liout  the  camp  for 
movin..-.    We  are  ready  to  start  usually    at    six, 
trav(d "until  eleven,  encamp,  rest  and  feed,  and 
start  again  at  two  and  travel  till  six  and  if  we 
come  to  a  good  tavern,  camp  for  the  night.' 

\  certain  number  of  men  were  set  apart  for 
hunters  each  day  and  tl-y  were  expected  to  bring 
in  four  mule  loads  of  meat  to  supply  the  daily  de- 
mands Wiiile  in  the  buffalo  country  this  was  an 
easy  task;  when  it  came  to  deer,  antelope  and 
bir«ls,  it  was  much  more  difficult  work. 

The  anteh>])e  is  a  great  delicacy,  but  he  is  the 
fleetest  foot»Hl  runner  upon  the  plains  and  has  to 
b<-  captured,  -euerally,  by  strategy.     Tie  has  an 
incmliunte  curiosity.     The  hunter  lies  down  and 
wives  a  red  handkerchief  «m  the  end  of  his  ram- 
pod  and  tlie  wliole  herd  seems  to  have  the  greatest 
(b^sire  to  know  what  it  is.  They  gaUop  around,  trot 
bio-h    and    snort  and  keep  caning    nearer,  until 
wi'^thin  gun  shot  they  pay  .U^arly  for  their  curiosity. 
T<»  avoid  danger  and   failure  of  meat  sur»T»bes 
bef<»re  leaving  the  bulYalo  country,  the  *';""l^in.v 
stopped  and  laid  in  a  good  ^supply  of  jerked  butfalo 


THE  BILL  OF  FARE. 


75 


meat.  It  was  well  they  did,  for  it  was  about  all 
they  had  for  a  long  distance.  As  Mrs.  Whitman 
saj's  in  her  diary: 

"Dried  buft'alo  meat  and  tea  for  breakfast,  and 
tea  and  dried  buffalo  meat  for  supper,"  but  jok- 
ingly adds:  "The  doctor  gives  it  variety  by  cook- 
iug  every  part  of  the  animal  in  a  diffenmt  way." 
Rut  after  all  it  was  a  novel  menu  for  a  bridal  Irijt. 

By  a  strange  miscalculation  they  ran  out  of  flour 
before  the  journey  was  half  ended.  But,  says  Mrs. 
Wliitnmn,  "My  health  continues  good,  but  sister 
Spalding  has  been  made  sick  by  the  diet." 

On  July  22d,  she  writes: 

"Had  a  tedious  ride  until  four  p.  m.  I  thought 
of  my  mother's  bread  as  a  child  would,  but  did  not 
find  it.  1  should  relish  it  extremelv  well.  But  we 
f(H'l  that  the  good  Father  has  blessed  us  beyond 
our  most  sanguine  expectations.  It  is  good  to  feel 
that  He  is  all  I  want  and  if  I  had  ten  thousand 
lives  I  would  give  them  all  t;>  Him." 

The  road  discovered  by  the  pioneers  through 
tlie  Houth  Pass  seems  to  have  been  made  by  na- 
ture (m  purpose  to  unite  the  Pacific  with  the  At- 
lantic slope  by  an  easy  wagon  road.  The  Wind 
Kiver  and  ]\t»cky  Mountains  appear  to  have  run 
<Mit  of  material,  or  spread  out  to  make  it  an  easy 
climb.  So  gentle  is  the  ascent  the  bulk  of  the  way 
that  the  traveler  is  scarcely  aware  of  the  fact  that 
he  is  climbing  the  great  "Stony  Mountains." 


,s 

<^M 

i 

■ 

1 

• 

ii 

1 

i 

m 

I  ,11 


I.  ^    i  r 


M( 

■ 

1    .. 

■ 

w 

B 

I^^B 

j 

'f^H 

76 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


!       |( 


.1  m 


Fremont  discovered  the  pass  in  1842  and  went 
through  it  again  in  1843,  and  Stanburv  in  1840, 
but  it  is  well  to  remember  that  upon  this  notable 
bridal  tour,  these  Christian  ladies  passed  over  the 
same  route  six  years  before  "The  Pathfinder,"  or 
the  engineer  corps  of  the  United  States,  ever 
saw  it. 

It  is  always  an  object  of  interest  to  know  when 
the  top  has  been  reached  and  to  see  the  famous 
spring  from  which  the  water  di  rides  and  runs 
both  ways.  Our  missionary  band,  accustomed  to 
have  regular  worship  on  the  plains,  Avheu  they 
reached  the  dividing  of  the  waters  held  an  espe- 
cially interesting  ser^  ice.  The  Kev.  Dr.  Jonathan 
Edwards  graphically  describes  it.    He  says: 

"There  is  a  scene  connected  with  their  journey 
which  demands  extraordinary  attention  in  view 
of  its  great  significance.  It  is  one  that  arouses  all 
that  is  good  within  us,  and  has  been  pronounced 
as  hardly  paralleled  in  American  records  for  his- 
toric grandeur  and  far-reaching  consequence.  It 
is  sublimely  beautiful  and  insi)iring  in  its  effects, 
and  would  baffle  the  genius  (»f  a  true  poet  to 
describe  it  with  adequate  fitness.  They  were  yet 
high  on  the  Kocky  Mountains,  with  the  great  ex- 
panse of  the  Pacific  slope  opening  before  them  like 
a  magnificent  panorama.  Their  hearts  were  pro- 
foundly move<l  as  they  witnessed  the  landscape 
unfolding  its  delightful  scenes,  and  as  they  viewed 


THE  SUMMIT  OP  THE  CONTINENT.  77 

the  vast  empire  given  them  to  win  for  Kino-  Eman- 
uel. 

"There  we  find  the  little  group  of  five  mission- 
aries, and  the  two  Nez  Perces  boys  that  Whitman 
took  with  him  to  New  York  selecting  a  spot  where 
the  bunch  grass  grows  high  and  thick.      Their 
hearts  go  out  to  God  in  joyful  adoration  for  His 
protecting  care  over  them  thus  far,  especially  so 
because  they  felt  the  greatest  difficulties  had  been 
overcome  and  they  now  entered  the  country  for 
the  people  of  which  they  had  devoted  their  lives 
The  sky  is  bright  above  them,  the  sun  shines  se- 
renely and  the  atmosphei'e.is  light  and  invigorat- 
ing.   The  sun  continues  his  course  and  illuminates 
the  western  horizon  like  a  flame  of  fire,  as  if  striv- 
ing to  give  them  a  temporary  glimpse  of  the  vast 
domain  between  them  and  the  Pacific  Ocean    They 
spread  their  blankets  carefully  on  the  grass,  and 
lifted  the  American  flag  to  wave  gracefully  in  the 
breeze,  and  with  the  IJible  in  the  center,  they  knelt 
and  with  prayer  and  praise  on  their  lips,  they  take 
possession  of  the  western  side  of  the  American 
continent  in  His  name  who  proclaimed  "Peace  on 
eartli  and  good  will  toward  men."     How  stron-lv 
It  evidences  their  faith  in  their  mission  and  Th'e 
conquering  power  of  the  King  of  Peace.    What  a 
soul-inspiring  scene." 

CV)ntinuing  her  <liai-v,  Mrs.  Whitman  says:    «I 
have  been  in  a  peaceful  state  of  mind  all  day." 


j...    :,    ..>, 

j:  ;      'lU 

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:ll 


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1    .; 

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iii  i 

78  HOW  MARCUS  WMITMAN  SAVKD  OREGON. 

July  25(11  she  av riles:  ''The  vide  has  Iummi  very 
moiinlMiuons,  ]»m<Iis  only  wimliiiL!:  jiIou}»-  (he  sides 
of  s(i'(']>  iu()un(;niis,  in  many  jdacos  so  naiTow  tliat 
I  lie  animal  Avonld  scaivcly  liud  i'o«)m  to  place  his 
foot 


>y 


On  .lulv  until 


It  is  npon  this  date  thai  she  a;;'ain  mourns  over 
llic  doctor's  juM'siskMice  In  haulini;'  alonj;-  his  his- 
toric \va«j,'on.  lOvcn  (he  j^ood  wife  in  full  sympathy 
with  her  Inishand  failed  (o  see  il  as  he  did;  it  was 
(he  pionci  r  chariot,  loaded  with  a  richness  that  no 
waiion  before  or  since  conr>«ned. 

'Hush;  •  has  had  a  tedious 
time  with  (he  wajiiui  lf>-d;s.  It  j^ot  stuck  in  the 
creek,  and  on  the  mountain  si<le,  so  stee|>  that  the 
horses  could  scarcely  climh,  it  was  upset  twice. 
It  was  a  woiuU'r  Ilia  I  it  was  not  tnrninii;  somer- 
saults continually.  It  is  not  ii,raleful  to  my  feel- 
in<is  to  see  him  wearing-  himself  out  with  excessive 
fatiiiiu^  All  (he  most  difticult  i)ort ions  of  (he  way 
he  has  walktMl,  in  a  laborious  atlem])t  to  take  the 


wauon. 


T'.ose  who  have  ii'<»iH'  over    the    same 


road  and  r(Muemb(M*  tlu*  hard  ])ulls  at  the  end  of 
lonji,'  ropes,  where  there  was  ])len(y  of  hel]>,  will 
W(Muler  most  that  he  succeeded. 

The  company  arrived  at  Fort  Ilall  on  Ann'ust 
1st.  Hen*  they  succeeded  in  buyinji'  a  little  rice, 
which  was  re<;arded  a  valuable  addition  to  their 
slender  stock  of  eatables.  Tlnw  had  <;one  beyond 
the  butfalo  ran«»'e  and  had  to  live  upon  the  dried 


fpli 

■ 

^,i      -, 

1 

'i.  ' 

1 

1 

'ill 

THAT  FAMOUS  WAGON. 


79 


in('ji<,  venison  mid  u  iM  ,|„,.|._^ 


W(Mv  sciiiTc  jind  in  Jimilcl 


*"■  ''«!',  iill  of  wiiicli 


Spcjilvinj;'  of  crossi 


Nn|»|)lv 


"«  Snako   K'ivor  Mrs.   \vi,i|. 


..mns..s:"Wo,M,M,M.,>.H<son(l,oh,I| 


tlu'  hiulioNt  I 


invsclf. 


The 


K'lno'  sclchMl  for  Mrs.  Spald 


<*S(    llOl-NCS. 


ill"-  and 


ti'P 


Ihi 


>'iV('l'    wlUMV    \V(>   ci'ossrd 


'CO  I) 


r:nicli,..s,  byislainls.    The  last  1 


Is    divid<»d    inf 


o 


••   "lilo  wido  and    ,o  d 


>i'an(li  is  >alf 


"«>m's'  sid(^s,  and  a 


<'«'!>  as  to  conic  n))  to  ti 


^va«••on   hinicd  ni)sido  dow 


vci-y   sti'onjli    cnnvnt.     TI 


(I 


lo  innlcs  \vci-c(MdanoNM|  i,,  tj,(.  i 


"  '"  'Ik'  ciimMit,  and 


''<»'i,ulil   of  (ho  toiToi-s  of  II 


cross  (ho  nios(  di(ti<-nl(  s( 


larncss.    I  onco 
H'  dvci's,  |)ut  now  I 


Anionu'  (h 


••cams  widiont  ji  foar" 


<lncd  elk  skin  with  t 


''  ""vcl   \Wv\os  she  speaks  of 


was  M 


t<»  be  fei'i'ied  1 

Ind 

th 


^yoI'o|)esa(tachcd.    The  party 
»  on  th(»  skin  and  tw 


i<'N  (lat  dow! 


'*'"'    ^\'<""<Mi  SAvininiin-   l,old|„o.   tj 
*'"'•"<»"' lis,  imli  it  across  the  s( 
Oneof  (h(Miotable(|uali( 


<) 


«    liio  ropes  in 
ream. 


'"■'^  observance  of  tiie  small 


inalKiesof  Dr.  Whilnian 


lite 


Mi 


thi 
ii.v  a  man  who  readies  af( 


was 
n,us  in  everv-dav 


<'V('rl,»(iks   and    ne^bn-ts   the   littl 


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b( 


but 


'in man  savs; 


or  .i-raud  resnitf 
o  evt?nt«.    Mrs 


'!< 


or  weeks  and  weeks  our 


'on  npon  open  pJains  witli  not 
^oven  here  we  find  rest  and 


impin-  pbices  have 
a  tree  in  siuht. 


band,  the  best  (ii<»  world 
I'eady  to  provid 


oomfort.    My  lins- 

'verprodiicMl,  is  ahvavs 

<'  a   comfortable  «hade  from    li.e 


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80 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


noonday  s-nn  when  we  stop.  With  one  of  our  sad- 
dle-blankets stretched  across  the  sage  brush  or 
upheld  by  sticks,  our  saddle  blankets  and  iisha- 
niores  placed  on  the  ground,  our  resting  is  delight- 
ful." 

Among  the  notable  events  of  the  journey  was 
when  the  party  reached  Green  lUver,  the  place 
of  annual  meeting  of  the  Indians  and  the  traders. 
It  was  this  place  that  Dr.  Whitman  had  reach<^d 
the  year  previous.  The  Green  is  one  of  the  large 
branches  of  the  (^)lorado,  which  heads  among  the 
snow  banks  of  Fremont's  Peak,  a  thousand  miles 
away.  In  its  picturesque  rugged  beauty  few  sec- 
tions excel  the  scenery  along  the  river,  and  now 
the  whole  scene,  alive  with  frontier  and  savage 
life,  was  one  to  impress  itself  indelibly  upon  the 
memories  of  our  travelers. 

There  were  about  two  hundred  traders  and  two 
th(»usand  Indians,  representatives  of  tribes  lo- 
cated many  hundreds  of  miles  distant.  The 
Cayuse  and  Nez  Perces,  who  ex])ected  Dr.  Whit- 
man and  his  delegation,  were  present  to  honor  the 
occasion,  and  meet  the  boys,  John  and  Kichard, 
who  had  acconipanied  the  doctor  from  this  i)lace 
the  year  before.  The  Indians  exiiressed  great  de- 
light over  the  successful  journey;  but  most  of  all 
they  were  delighted  with  the  noble  white  squaws 
who  had  come  over  t  lie  hnig  tr.lil.  They  were  dem- 
onstrative and  scoured  the  mountains  for  delica- 


AT  FORT  HALL, 


81 


'I 


cies  in  game  from  the  woods  and  brought  trout 
from  the  river,  and  seemed  constantly  to  fear  that 
they  were  neglecting  some  courtesy  expected  of 
them. 

They  finally  got  up  a  war  tournament,  and  six 
hundred  armed  and  mounted  Indians,  in  their 
war  paint,  with  savage  yells  bore  down  toward  the 
tents  of  the  ladies,  and  it  was  almost  too  realistic 
of  savage  life  to  be  enjoyed. 

Here  the  brides  were  permitted  to  rest  for  ten 
days,  and  until  their  tired  animals  could  recuper- 
ate. The  scenery  along  the  last  three  hundred 
miles  was  most  charming,  and  almost  made  the 
travelers  forget  the  precipitous  climbs  and  the? 
steep  descents.  The  da'vs  sped  rast,  and  the 
wagon  being  left  behind  to  be  sent  for  later  on, 
the  weddl.ig  party  marched  more  rapidly.  They 
reached  Walla  AValla  Kiver,  eight  miles  from  the 
fort,  the  last  day  of  August,  and  on  September  1st 
they  made  an  early  start  and  galloped  into  the 
fort.    The  party  was  hospitably  received. 

Says  Mrs.  Whitman:  "They  were  just  eating 
breakfast  when  we  arrived,  and  soon  we  were 
seated  at  the  table  and  treated  to  fresh  salmon, 
potatoes,  tea,  bread  and  butter.  What  a  varietv, 
thouglit  I.  You  cannot  imagine  what  an  appetite 
these  rides  in  tlu^  mouiifnius  give  a  person." 

We  have  preferred  to  let  Mrs.  Whitman  tell  in 
her  own  way  the  story  of  this  memorabk-  weddin..- 


fi 


11 1 


ft„i'   ht 


!•- 


s 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

journey.  The  reader  will  look  in  vain  for  any 
mourning-  or  disquietude.  Two  noble  women 
started  in  to  be  the  helpmeets  of  two  good  men, 
and  what  a  grand  success  they  made  of  it.  There 
is  nowhere  any  spirit  of  grumbling,  but  on  the 
contrary,  a  joyousness  and  exhilaration.  True 
womanhood  of  all  time  is  honored  in  the  lives  of 
such  women.  It  was  but  the  coming  of  the  first 
white  women  who  ever  crossed  the  Kocky  Moun- 
tains and  notable  as  an  heroic  wedding  journey, 
but  to  the  world  it  was  not  only  exalted  heroism, 
but  a  great  historic  event,  the  building  of  an  em- 
pire whose  wide-reaching  good  cannot  easily  be 
overestimated. 

It  was  an  event  unparalleled  in  real  or  roman- 
tic literature,  and  so  i)ure  an«l  exalted  in  its  mo- 
tives, and  prosecuted  so  unostentatiously,  as  to 
honor  true  womanhood  for  all  time  to  come. 


i:l 


1  *  ! 


f] 


CHAPTER  V. 


MISSION  LIFE  IN   WAIILATPUI. 


Most  writers  si)etik  of  the  Mission  at  Waiihitpni, 
as  "Tlie  Presbyterian  Mission."  Wliile  it  does  not 
mueli  matter  wlietlier  it  watj  Presbyterian  or  (N>n- 
jjrej^ational,  it  is  well  to  have  the  history  correct. 
The  two  si'<?at  ehiirehes  at  that  time  were  nnited 
in  their  forei,',n  missionary  work,  and  tlieir  mis- 
sionaries were  taken  fr<mi  both  denominations. 
A  year  or  morc^  aj>()  I  asked  the  late  I'rofessor 
Marcns  Whitman  Montj»()mery,  of  the  (Mii(aji»<j 
Theolojjical  Heminary  (a  namesake  of  Dr.  Whit- 
man), to  go  over  Dr.  Whitman's  chnrch  i-ecord 
Avhile  in  Boston.  lie  sends  me  the  followinjj;, 
which  may  be  regarded  as  authentic: 


Uavenswood,  Chicago,  Jan.  5,  1804. 
Dr.  O.  W.  Nixcm: 

Dear  Sir — The  record  of  Dr.  Whitman's  church 
membership  is  as  f(dh)ws:  ( 'onverted  during  a  re- 
vival in  the  ('ougregalionai  Church  at  Plaintield, 
Mass.,  in  1819,  Hev.  Moses  Ilallock,  pastor.    His 


'f  i. 


Pi 

<!■'■ 

i 


i 


J    R 


;^f  M 


84 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


first  joining  of  a  church  was  at  Rushville,  Yates 
County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  joined  the  Congregational 
Church  in  1824,  Rev.  David  Page,  pastor.  He 
was  a  member  of  this  church  for  nine  years,  then 
he  removed  to  Wheeler  Center,  Steuben  County, 
N.  Y.  There  being  no  Congregational  Church 
there  he  joined  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Wheeler  Center,  Rev.  James  T.  llotchkiss,  pas- 
tor. He  was  a  member  of  this  Presbyterian 
Church  for  three  years,  then  he  went  to  the  Pacific 
Coast.  This  mission  church  was  Presbyterian  in 
name  and  Congregational  in  practice,  while  Whit- 
man and  the  other  missionaries  were  supported  by 
the  American  Board.  The  American  Board  was 
always  Congregational,  but,  at  that  time,  the  Pres- 
byterians were  co-operating  with  the  American 
Board. 

These  are  the  bottom  facts  as  I  have  every  rea- 
son to  believe.    Very  truly  yours, 

MARCUS  WHITMAN  MONTGOMEIIY. 

The  Rev.  H.  II.  Spaldnig  was  a  Presbyterian, 
and  the  Mission  Church  was  Presbyterian  in  name, 
but  was  Congregational  in  practice,  and  had  a 
confession  of  faith  and  covenant  of  its  own.  While 
the  record  slio.vs  Wliitman  to  have  been  a  Congre- 
gationalist,  it  also  shows  that  lie  united  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church  when  he  settled  at  WliiH'ler 
Center,  N.  Y.,  where  there  was  no  Congregational 


ON  THE  GROUND.  85 

Cliurcli.  But  the  fact  remaius  that  his  memory 
and  the  acts  of  his  grand  life  are  amply  sufficient 
to  interest  both  these  great  denominations. 

Mrs.  Whitman  joined  the  Presbyterian  Church 
when  a  young  girl  of  eleven. 

Dr.  Whitman  was  born  at  Rushville,  N.  Y.,  Sep- 
tember 4,  1802,  and  was  thirty-three  years  old 
when  he  entered  upon  his  work  in  Oregon.  When 
first  converted  he  resolved  to  study  for  the  minis- 
try, but  a  chain  of  circumstanct^s  changed  his 
plans  and  he  studied  medicine.  The  early  hard- 
ships and  privations  educated  him  into  an  ad- 
mirable fitness  for  the  chosen  work  of  his  life. 

Picture  that  little  missionarv  band  as  thev  stood 
together  at  Fort  Walla  Walla  in  September,  183(1, 
and  consulted  about  the  great  problems  to  solve. 
It  was  all  new.  There  were  no  precedents  to  gui<le 
them.  Tliey  easily  understood  that  the  first  thing 
to  do  was  to  consult  the  ruling  powers  of  Oregon— 
the  II u  Ison  Bay  Company  officials  at  Fort  Van- 
couver. This  would  require  another  journey  of 
three  hundred  miles,  but  as  it  could  be  made  in 
boats,  and  the  Indians  were  capital  oarsmen,  they 
resolved  to  take  their  wives  with  them,  and  thus 
complete  the  wedding  journey. 

The  gallant  Dr.  McLoughlin,  Chief  Factor  of 
the  Hudson  Bay  Comi)any,  was  a  keen  judge  of 
human  nature,  and  read  men  and  women  as  schol- 
ars read  books,  and  he  was  captivated  with  the 


h 


n!U 


II 


I  if' 


Lis  ,k'     I  R  '  H 
J.    ||- 


'4tV4* 


86 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


Open,  manly  ways  of  Dr.  Whitman  and  the  woman- 
ly accomplishments  of  the  fair  yoimo-  wife,  Avho 
liad  braved  the  perils  of  an  overland  journey  with 
wholly  unselfish  purposes.  Whitman  soon  devel- 
oped to  Dr.  McLouj^hlin  all  his  plans  and  his  hopes. 
Perhaps  there  wavS  a  professional  free  masonry  be- 
tween the  men  that  brought  them  closer  together, 
but,  by  nature,  they  were  both  men  endowed 
richly  with  the  best  manly  characters. 

Dr.  McLoughliu  resolved  to  do  the  best  thing 
possible  for  them,  while  he  still  protected  the  in- 
terests of  his  great  monopoly.  Dr.  Whitman's 
idea,  was  to  build  one  mission  at  the  Dalles  so 
as  to  be  convenient  to  shipping;  McLoughlin  at 
once  saw  it  would  not  do.  He  had  already  pushed 
the  Methodist  Mission  far  up  the  Willamette  out 
of  the  way  of  the  fort  and  its  work,  and  argued 
with  Whitman  that  it  would  be  best  for  him  to 
go  to  the  Walla  Walla  country,  three  hundred 
miles  away,  and  Spalding,  one  hundred  and  lAven- 
ty-five  miles  farther  on. 

Tie. argued  that  the  river  Indians  were  far  less 
hopeful  subjects  to  deal  with,  and  tliat  the  bunch 
grass  hulians,  the  Cayuse  and  Nez  Perces,  had  ex- 
pressed a  great  anxiety  for  teachers.  This  ar- 
rangcMuent  had  been  partially  agreed  to  by  Mr. 
Parker  the  year  before.  After  a  full  canvass  of 
the  entire  subject.  Dr.  McLoughlin  promised  all 


AN  OREGON  FOREST. 


87 


the  aid  in  his  ])ow^t  to  give  them  a  comfortable 

start. 

At  his  earnest  petition,  Mrs.  Whitman  and  Mrs. 
Spalding  renxained  at  Vaneonver  while  their  hus- 
bands went  back  to  erect  houses  that  would  shel- 
ter them  from  the  coming  winter.  To  niake  ^Irs. 
Whitman  feel  at  ease,  and  that  she  was  not  tax- 
ing the  generosity  of  their  new  friends.  Dr.  Mc- 
Loughlin  placed  his  daughter  under  her  instruc- 
tion, both  in  her  class  work  and  music.  Every  effort 
was  nmde  to  interest  and  entertain  the  guests; 
the  afternoons  were  given  to  excursions  on  the 
water,  or  on  horseback,  or  in  rambles  through  the 
great  tir  forests,  still  as  wild  as  nature  made  them. 

There  is  a  grandeur  in  the  great  forest  beyond 
the  Stony  Mountains  unequaled  in  any  portion  of 
the  world.  In  our  Northern  latitudes  the  under- 
growth is  so  thick  as  to  make  comfortable  travel- 
ing impossible,  but  in  the  tir  woods  and  in  the  pine 
and  redwood  forests  of  Oregon,  there  are  compara- 
tively few  of.  such  obstructicms.  The  great  giants 
ten  or  twelve  feet  in  diameter,  two  hundred  and 
seventy  feet  higli,  and  one  hundred  feet  without  a 
limb,  hide  the  sun,  and  upon  a  summer  day  make 
jaunts  through  the  forest  delightful  to  a  lover  of 

nature. 

It  was  a  grand  rest  and  a  pleasing  finale  to  the 
hardships  of  the  wedding  journey  for  these  heroic 
women,  and  Mrs.  Whitman,  in  her  diary,  never  a 


iff 

1  '-!•*'  ■ 

1  'i 

f 

It 

1 

iff 

iMnJ 


/« 


h'f 


88 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


f-  1  !l 


day  nej^leets  to  ronieinbor  her  kind  benefactors. 
They  rested  here  for  about  one  and  a  half  months, 
when  Mr.  Spahlin<»-  eame  after  them  and  reported 
the  houses  so  far  advanced  as  to  give  them  shelter. 
We  read  the  following  note  in  Mrs.  Whitman's 
diary,  18.3G: 

'  "December  2()th.  Where  are  we  now,  and  who 
are  we,  that  we  should  be  thus  blessed  of  the  Lord? 
I  can  scarcely  realize  that  we  are  thus  comforta- 
bly fixed  and  keeping  house  so  soon  after  our  nmr- 
riage,  when  considering  what  was  then  before  us. 
"We  arrived  here  on  the  10th,  distance  twenty- 
five  miles  from  Fort  Walla  Walla.  Foun<l  a 
house  reared  and  the  lean-to  enclosed,  a  good 
chimney  and  fireplace  and  the  floor  laid.  No 
windows  or  doors,  except  blankets.  My  heart 
truly  leaped  for  joy  as  I  lighted  from  my 
horse,  entered  and  seated  myself  before  a  pleas- 
ant fire  (for  it  was  now  night).  It  occurred  to  me 
that  my  dear  parents  had  made  a  similar  begin- 
ning and  perhaps  a  more  difficult  one  than  ours. 
"We  had  neither  straw,  bedstead  or  table,  nor 
anything  to  make  them  of  except  green  cotton- 
wood.  All  our  boards  are  sawed  by  hand.  Here 
my  husband  and  his  laborers  (two  Owyhees  from 
Vancouver,  and  a  man  who  crossed  the  mountains 
with  us),  and  Mr.  Gray  had  been  encamped  in  a 
tent  since  the  19th  of  October,  toiling  excessively 


OO 


t*0 


.nil 


'MUl 


i«    ■Bit 


ittrH 


u 


o 

t] 


tl 


THE  SITE  OF  THE  MISSION.  89 

hard  to  accompliHli  this  much  for  our  comfortable 
residence  durinjr  the  remainder  of  the  winter. 

"It  is,  indeed,  a  h)vely  situation.  We  are  on  a 
beautiful  level  peninsula  formed  by  the  branches 
of  the  Walla  Walla  Kiver,  upon  the  base  of  which 
our  house  stands,  on  the  southeast  corner,  near 
the  shore  of  the  main  river.  To  run  a  fence  across 
to  the  opposite  river  on  the  north  from  our  house 
—this,  with  the  river,  would  enclose  three  hun- 
dred acres  of  good  land  for  cultivation,  all  directlv 
under  the  eye. 

"The  rivers  are  barely  skirted  with  timber. 
Ihis  IS  all  the  woodland  we  can  see.  Beyond 
them,  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach,  plains  and  moun- 
tarns  appear.  On  the  east,  a  few  rods  from  the 
house,  is  a  range  of  small  hills  covered  with  bunch  ' 
grass,  very  excellent  food  for  animals  and  upon 
which  they  subsist  during  winter,  even  digging 
It  from  under  the  snow." 

This  section  is  now  reported  as  among  the  most 
fertile  and  beautiful  places  ip  Washington. 
Looking  away  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  the 
-scenic  beauty  is  grandly  impressive.  The  Indians 
named  the  place  Wai-i-lat-pui  (the  place  of  rye 
grass)  For  twenty  miles  there  is  a  level  reach 
of  fertile  soil  through  which  flows  like  a  silver 
thread  the  Walla  Walla  Kiver,  while  in  the  dis- 
tance h)oin  up  toward  the  clouds  as  a  background 
the  picturesque  Blue  Mountains.     The   greatest 


is    1 


I.  s 


90 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


drawback  was  tlio  lonj.'  distance  t<)  any  tinilKH' 
snitabio  for  inakinji»-  boards,  and  the  almost  entire 
lack  of  h(d])(M's. 

The  Cayusc  Indians  socMuc-d  doIi<i;littHl  with  the 
pros])c<-t  of  a  Mission  church  and  sciiool,  but  they 
tlioMj>ht  it  dis<>i'aceful  I'ov  I  hem  io  work.  The 
doctor  hud  to  }^(,  from  niae  (o  llfteen  miles  to  ^'e' 
his  timber  for  boar«ls,  an<l  tlien  hew  or  saw  th(:ni 
out  by  hand,  ft  was  not,  tlierefore,  strange,  as 
Mrs.  AVhitman  wri;es  in  hec  diary,  December  2(Jth: 
"No  do(n's  or  winchtws."  From  the  (hiy  hv  entered 
ni)on  his  work.  Dr.  Wliitnum  was  weli-ni^h  an 
incessant  toiler.  Every  yejir  he  built  sn  addition 
to  his  lioiise. 

T.  J.  I'lirnham,  who  wrote  a  book  of  "Travels 
Across  (he  <Jr«'at  Western  Prairies  and  Uockv 
Mountains,"  visited  the  Wliitman  Mission  in  Sei)- 
tember,  1S;!!K  He  says:  "i  found  250  acres  en- 
closed and  2(H)  acres  umh^'  '^ood  cultivation.  J 
found  forly  or  llity  Indian  children  between  the 
aji-es  of  seven  and  ei;;hlee!i  years  in  school,  and 
Mrs.  Whitman  an  indefali.uai.le  ii;strnc(or.  One 
buihlitiji'  was  in  course  of  const  ruction  and  a  small 
jii'isi   miil  in  rui'.uinu'  oriU'r." 

lie  says  aji  dn:  "It  a|)i>eared  to  me  quite  re- 
markable thai  th«  doctor  couhl  have  ma<le  so 
man.v  improvenu»nls  sinci'  the  year  1S.{(J;  but  the 
indtistry  which  crowch'd  everv  hour  of  the  da  v. 
IMS  untirino-  enerf»y  of  character,  and  the  verv 


tftii 


WHITMAN'S  INDUSTRY. 


91 


otticioiit  aid  of  his  wife  iu  relic  vino-  liiiii  iu  a  great 

(le«»roe  from  tlio  labors  of  tlie  school,  eus'.bled  him, 

witlKmt  funds   for  siu-h  purposes,  and   without 

other  aid  than  that  of  a  fellow  missionary  for 

short  intervals,  to  fenee,  plow,  build,  plant  an 

orchard,  and  do  all  the  other  laborious  acts  of 

oi)enin<;'  a  plantation  on  the  face  of  that  distant 

wilderness,  learn  an  Indian  lan<;uaj»e,  and  do  the 

duties,  meanwhile,  of  a  physician  to  the  associate 

stations  on  the  Clearwater  and  Spokane." 

I'eople  wlio  give  their  money  for  missionary 

work  can  easily  see  that  in  the  case  in  hand  they 

receive<l  faithful  service.     This  is  no  prejudi'^e<l 

ri'port,  but  facts  based  upon  the  knowledge  of  a 

stranger,  .vlid.  had  no  reas(m  to  misrepresent  or 
exaggerate. 

One  of  the  first  efforts  of  Dr.  Whitman  was  to 
induce  his  ln«lians  to  build  permanent  homes,  to 
l»low,  |)lant  an<l  sow.  This  the  Hudson  Bay  Com- 
pany had  always  discouraged.  They  wanted 
their  savage  aids  as  nomads  and  hunters,  ready 
to  nu>ve  hundreds  and  hundreds  of  miles  away 
in  search  of  furs.  They  ha<l  never  been  encour- 
aged lo  rnis<»  either  grain  or  fruit,  cattle  ov  slu'ej). 

Dr.  Jonathan  Edwards  vsays,  in  speaking  of 
The  Whitman  Mission  in  1S42:  "The  Indians  were 
cultivating  fnun  one-fourili  to  four  a. res  of  land, 
had  s(  venty  head  of  cattle,  and  some  of  Ihem  a 
few  sheep."     The  same  author  gives  a  graphic 


«f 

•  I' 

rf'"^  !l 

r 

f  •'  1 

'.l     I 


ill 


'  'it 


»".!' 


'n 


«  ^  'i 


i|t|[ 
1^" 


92 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


description  of  the  painstaking  work  of  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Wliitmau,  not  only  in  tiie  school  room,  but  in 
the  Indian  home,  to  show  them  the  comforts  and 
benefits  of  civilization.  Every  Indian  who  will 
plant  is  furnished  the  seed. 

lie  also  describes  the  orderly  Sunday  at  the 
Mission.  Up  to  the  year  1838  the  principal  meat 
used  as  food  by  the  Mission  was  horse  flesh.  The 
cattle  were  too  few  to  be  sacrificed  in  that  way. 
In  1837  Mrs.  Whitman  writes  in  her  diary:  "We 
have  had  but  little  venison  furnished  by  the  In- 
dians, but  to  supplj'  our  men  and  visitors  we  have 
bouj?ht  of  the  Indians  and  eaten  ten  wild  horses." 

In  1811  their  stock  of  hojnjs  and  cattle  had  so 
increased  that  they  were  able  to  make  a  partial 
chanj^e  of  diet. 

Another  witness  to  the  value  of  Dr.  Whitman's 
missionary  work  is  Joseph  Drayton,  of  Commo- 
dore Wilkes'  explorinpj  expedition  of  1841. 

He  says  of  the  Mission:  "All  the  premises 
looked  comfortable,  the  jifarden  especially  tine, 
vej»etables  and  melons  in  jjreat  variety.  The 
wheat  in  the  fields  was  seven  feet  hi}>h  and  nearly 
rii>e,  Rxid  the  corn  nine  feet  in  the  tassel."  He 
marks  the  drav/backs  of  the  Mission:  "The  roving 
of  (he  Indians,  rarely  staying  at  home  more  than 
three  months  at  a  time."  "They  are  off  after  buf- 
falo," and  "a^ain  off  after  the  salmon,"  and  "not 


!t 


DEATH  OF  THEIR  CHILD. 


98 


more  than  fifty  or  sixty  remain  during  the  win- 
ter." 

These  Cayuse  Indians  were  not  a  numerous 
band,  but  they  were  born  traders,  were  wealthy, 
and  had  a  great  influence  over  other  tribes. 
Their  wealth  consisted  uiainlv  in  horses:  a  single 
Indian  Chief  ownt-d  two  thousand  head.  One  of 
their  good  qualities  Mrs.Whitnian  speaks  of,  is, 
"there  are  no  thieves  among  them."  She  has  to 
keep  notliing  locked  out  of  fear  from  thieves;  but 
they  had  one  trying  habit  of  which  Mrs.  Whit- 
man had  great  troubh^  to  break  them— that  was, 
they  thought  they  had  a  right  to  go  into  every 
room  in  the  house,  and  seemed  to  think  that  some- 
thing was  wrong  when  deprived  of  visiting  the 
bedrooms  of  the  fauiily. 

In  June,  1889,  a  great  sorrow  came  to  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Whitman.  They  had  but  one  child,  a  little  girl 
of  two  years  and  three  months  (dd  In  their  isolated 
c(mdition  one  can  easily  imagihe  what  a  large 
place  a  bright  and  attractive  child  would  have  in 
the  heart  of  father  aud  mother  in  such  a  home. 
In  the  pursuance  of  his  duties  the  doctor  was  ab- 
sent night  after  night,  and  some  of  his  more  dis- 
tant patients  occupied  him  frequently  many  days. 

It  was  at  such  times  that  Mrs.  Whitman  found 
great  comfort  and  happiness  in  her  little  daugii- 
ter.  The  child  had  learned  the  Indian  language 
and  spoke  it  liueutly,  to  the  delight  of  the  Indians, 


i;  ..;..*, 


L :  I- 


94 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


and  had  learned  all  the  songs  sung  in  the  Nez 
Perces  dialect,  having  inherited  the  musical  tal- 
ent of  her  mother.  It  was  in  September,  1839, 
that  she  was  accidentally  drowned  in  the  Walla 
Walla  River.  In  her  diary  Mrs.  Whitman  writes 
to  her  mother: 

"I  cannot  describe  what  our  feelings  were  when 
night  came  and  our  dear  child  a  corpse  in  the  next 
room.  We  went  to  bed,  but  not  to  sleep,  for  sleep 
had  departe<l  from  our  eyes.  The  morning  came, 
we  arose,  but  our  child  slept  on.  I  prepared  a 
shroud  for  her  during  the  day;  we  kept  her  four 
days;  it  was  a  great  blessing  and  comfort  to  me 
so  long  as  she  looked  natural  and  was  so  sweet  I 
could  caress  her.  But  when  her  visage  began  to 
change  I  felt  it  a  great  privilege  that!  I  could  put 
her  in  so  safe  a  resting  place  as  the  grave,  to  see 
her  no  more  until  the  resurrection  morning. 

"Although  her  grave  is  in  sight  every  time  I 
step  out  of  the  door,  my  thoughts  seldom  wander 
there  to  find  her.  I  look  above  with  unspeakable 
delight,  and  contemplate  her  as  enjoying  the  full 
delights  of  that  bright  world  where  her  joys  are 
perfect." 

One  seldom  reads  a  more  pathetic  story  than 
this  recorded  by  Mrs.  Whitman,  and  yet,  the  al- 
most heartbroken  mother  in  her  anguish  never 
murmurs  or  rebels.  On  the  morning  of  the  day 
she  was  drowned,  Mrs.  Whitman  writes,  the  little 


MRS.  WHITMAN'S  RESIGNATION. 


96 


daughter  was  permitted  to  select  a  hymn  for  the 
family  worship.  She  made  a  selection  of  the  old- 
time  favorite: 

"ROCK  OF  AGES." 

"While  I  draw  this  fleeting  breath, 
When  my  eyelids  close  in  death; 
When  I  rise  to  worlds  unknown, 
And  behold  Thee  on  Thy  Throne; 
Rock  of  ages  cleft  for  me, 
Let  me  hide  myself  in  Thee." 

When  the  Indians  came  in  for  the  afternoon 
service  Dr.  Whitman  turned  to  the  same  hymn 
and  the  baby  girl  again  with  her  sweet  voice 
joined  in  the  singing.     Says  Mrs.  Whitman: 

"This  was  the  last  we  heard  her  sing.  Little 
did  we  think  that  her  young  life  was  so  fleeting 
or  that  those  sparkling  eyes  would  so  soon  be 
closed  in  death,  and  her  spirit  rise  to  worlds  un- 
known to  behold  on  His  Throne  of  glory  Ilim  who 
said:  'I  will  be  a  God  to  thee  and  thy  seed  after 
thee.' " 

They  got  water  for  the  household  use  from  the 
running  river,  and  the  two  little  tin  cups  were 
found  on  the  e<lge  of  the  water.  An  old  Indian 
dived  in  and  soon  brought  out  the  body,  but  life 
was  extinct. 

The  profoundly  Christian  character  of  the 
mother  is  revealed  in  every  note  of  the  sad  event. 

She  writes:  "I  (.'•r',  it  is  right;  it  is  right.  She 
is  not  mine,  but  thine;   she  was  only  lent  to  me 


'ail 


i! 


^jPj'H!'' 


^K3  ' 

i 

1 

ill 

I 


96 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


to  comfort  me  for  a  little  season,  and  now,  dear 
Savior,  Thou  hast  the  best  right  to  her.  Thy  will, 
not  mine,  be  done."  Perils  and  hardships  had 
Ionj]f  been  theirs,  but  this  was  their  great  sorrow. 
But  it  only  seemed  to  excite  them  to  greater 
achievements  in  the  work  before  them.  Not  a 
single  interest  was  neglected. 

The  sudden  death  of  "The  Little  White  Cay- 
use,"  as  the  Indians  called  her,  seemed  to  estrange 
the  Indians  from  the  Mission.  They  almost  wor- 
shiped her,  and  came  almost  daily  to  see  her  and 
hear  her  sing  the  Cayuse  songs.  The  old  Chief 
had  many  times  said:  "AYheu  I  die  I  give  every- 
thing I  have  to  the  'Little  White  Cayuse.'  "  From 
this  time  on  the  Indians  frequently  showed  a  bad 
spirit.  They  saw  the  flocks  and  herds  of  the 
Mission  increasing,  and  the  fields  of  waving  grain, 
and  began  to  grow  jealous  antl  make  demands 
that  would  have  overtaxed  and  caused  fear  in 
almost  any  other  man  than  a  Whitman. 

Both  before  and  after  his  memorable  ride  to 
Washington,  his  good  friend,  Dr.  McLoughlin, 
many  times  begged  him  to  leave  the  Mission  for 
a  while,  until  the  Indians  got  in  a  better  frame  of 
mind.  No  man  knew  the  Indians  so  well  as  Mc- 
Loughlin, and  he  saw  the  impending  danger;  but 
no  entreaties  moved  Whitman.  Here  was  his  life 
work  and  here  he  would  remain. 

In  these  sketches  there  is  no  effort  to  tell  the 


DID  THE  OREGON  MISSION  PAY? 


97 


complete  Oregon  Mission  story,  but  only  so  much 
of  it  as  will  make  clear  the  heroic  and  patriotic 
services  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Whitman.  The  reader 
will  tind  a  most  careful  study  of  the  whole  broad 
field  of  pioneer  mission  work  upon  the  Pacific 
Coast  in  the  Kev.  Myron  Eells'  two  books,  the 
"History  of  Indian  Missions,"  and  the  "Biography 
of  Kev.  Gushing  Eells." 

How  much  or  how  little  the  work  of  the  Oregon 
Missionaries  benefited  the  Indians  eternity  alone 
will  reveal.  They  simply  obeyed  the  call  "to 
preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature." 

A  train  of  circumstances,  a  series  of  evolutions 
in  national  history  which  they  neither  originated 
nor  could  stop,  were  portending.  But  that  the 
Missionaries  first  of  all  saw  the  drift  of  coming 
events,  and  wisely  guided  them  to  the  peace  and 
lasting  good  of  the  nation  is  as  plain  as  any  page 
of  written  history. 

With  the  light  of  that  time,  with  the  terrible 
massacre  at  Waiilatpui  in  sight,  it  is  not  strange 
that  good  people  felt  that  there  had  been  great 
sacrifice  with  small  good  results.  All  the  years 
since  have  been  correcting  such  false  estimates. 
The  American  Board  and  the  Christian  people  of 
the  land  have  made  their  greatest  mistake  in  not 
rallving  to  the  defense  of  th<Mr  martvr  heroes. 

No  "forty  thousand  dollars"  <'V(>r  sjxMit  by  that 
organization  before  or  since  lias  been  so  prolific  in 


't,. 


f»ii* 


'vr  ii 


'  i 


'  itil 


'wm* 


98 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


good.  The  argument  to  sustain  this  assertion 
will  be  found  in  other  sketches. 

The  United  States  Government  could  well  af- 
ford to  give  a  million  dollars  every  year  to  the 
American  Board  for  fifty  years  to  come,  and  to 
endow  Whitman  College  magnificently,  and  then 
not  pay  a  moiety  for  the  benefit  it  has  received  as  a 
nation,  and  never  acknowledged. 

The  best  possible  answer  of  the  church  and  of 
the  friends  of  missions  to  those  who  sneeriuglv 
ask.  What  good  has  resulted  to  the  world  for  all 
the  millions  spent  on  missions?  is  to  point  to  that 
neglected  grave  at  Waiilatpui,  and  recite  the  story 
of  heroism  and  patriotism  of  Dr.  Marcus  Whit- 
man. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


THE  RIDE  TO  SAVE  OREGON. 


The  world  loves  a  hero,  and  the  pioneer  history 
.  of  our  several  States  furnishes  as  interesting 
characters  as  are  anywhere  recorded.  In  view  of 
the  facts  and  conditions  already  recited,  the  old 
Missionaries  were  anxious  and  restless,  and  yet 
felt  in  a  measure  powerless  to  avert  the  danger 
threatened.  They  believed  fully  that  under  the 
terms  of  the  treaty  of  1818,  re-affirmed  in  1828, 
whichever  nationality  settled  and  organized  the 
territorv,  that  nation  would  hold  it. 

This  was  not  directly  affirmed  in  the  terms  of 
that  treaty,  but  was  so  interpreted  by  the  Amer- 
icans and  English  in  Oregon,  and  was  greatly 
strengthened  by  the  fact  that  leading  statesmen 
in  Congress  had  for  nearly  half  a  century  wholly 
neglected  Oregon,  and  time  and  again  gone  upon 
record  as  declaring  it  worthless  and  undesirable. 
In  their  conferences  the  Missionaries  from  time 
to  time  had  gone  over  the  whole  question,  and  did 


'I'll 


■  .1 


I,     ' 

*    :    'in 

i.,  1  ll 

100        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

everything  in  their  power  to  encourage  immigra- 
tion. 

Their  glowing  accounts  of  the  fertility  of  the 
soil,  the  balmy  climate,  the  towering  forests,  the 
indications  of  richness  in  minerals,  had  each  year 
induced  a  limited  number  of  more  daring  Amer- 
icans to  immigrate. 

In  this  work  of  the  Missionaries  Jason  Lee,  the 
chief  of  the  Methodist  Missions,  was,  up  to  the 
date  of  the  incident  we  are  to  narrate,  the  most 
successful  of  all.  He  was  a  man  of  great  strength 
of  character.  Like  Whitman,  he  was  also  a  man 
of  groat  physical  strength,  fearless,  and,  with  it 
all,  wise  and  brainy.  No  other  man  among  the 
pioneers,  for  his  untiring  energy  in  courting  im- 
migration, can  be  so  nearly  classed  with  Whit- 
man. 

They  were  all  men,  who,  though  in  Oregon  to 
convert  Indian  savages  to  Christianity,  yet  were 
intensely  American.  They  tliought  it  no  abuse 
of  their  Christianity  to  carry  the  banner  of  the 
Cross  in  one  hand  and  the  banner  of  their  coun- 
try in  the  other.  Missionaries  as  they  were,  tlw)u- 
sands  of  miles  from  home,  neglected  by  the  Gov- 
ernment, yet  the  love  of  country  seemed  to  shine 
wHh  constantly  increasing  luster. 

In  addition  to  the  Missionaries,  at  the  time  of 
which  we  write,  there  was  quite  a  population  of 
agriculturists  and  traders  in  the  near  vicinity  of 


ARRIVAL  OF  LOVEJOY. 


101 


each  missiou.  These  heartily  cooperated  with 
the  Missionaries  aud  shared  their  anxieties.  lu 
1840-'41  many  of  them  met  and  canvassed  the  sub- 
ject whether  they  should  make  an  attempt  to  or- 
ganize a  government  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes; 
but  they  easily  saw  that  they  were  outnumbered 
by  the  English,  who  were  already  organized  and 
were  the  real  autocrats  of  the  country. 

So  the  time  passed  until  the  fall  of  1842,  when 
Elijah  White,  an  Indian  agent  for  the  Govern- 
ment in  the  Northwest,  brought  a  party  of  Amer- 
icans, men,  women  and  children,  numbering  one 
hundred  and  twenty,  safely  through  to  Waiilat- 
pui.  In  this  company  was  a  more  than  usually 
intelligent,  well-informed  Christian  gentleman, 
destined  to  fill  an  important  place  in  our  story. 
General  Amos  L.  Lovejoy.  He  was  thoroughly 
posted  in  national  affairs,  and  gave  Dr.  Whituuin 
his  first  intimation  of  the  probability  that  the 
Ashburton  Treaty  would  likely  come  to  a  crisis 
before  Congress  adjourned  in  March,  18-13.  This 
related,  as  it  was  supposed,  to  the  entire  boundary 
between  the  United  States  and  the  English  pos- 
sessions. 

The  question  had  been  raised  in  1791,  "Where 
is  'the  angle  of  Nova  Scotia,'  and  where  are  the 
'highlands  between  the  angle  and  the  northwest 
head  of  the  Connecticut  Kiver?'"  Time  and 
again  it  had  been  before  commissioners,  and  dip- 


'  *i 


1.  I.      :■ 


V 

Li     i 


•:^ 


102 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


■ 


I 


loiuats  had  many  tiinos  j^rowii  eloijuent  in  ex- 
plaiiun}:^',  but  heretofore  iiothiii};'  had  come  of  it. 
Muc'li  was  made  of  it,  and  yet  it  was  only  a  dis- 
pute as  to  who  owned  some  twelve  thousand  and 
twenty  acres  of  land,  much  of  which  was  of  little 
value. 

Lookinp:  back  now  one  wonders  at  the  short- 
sij^htedness  of  statesmen  who  (jnarreled  for  forty- 
eijuht  years  over  this  garden  patch  of  rocky  land  in 
Maine,  when  three  };reat  states  were  quietly  slip- 
pinjjf  away  with  scarcely  a  protest.  But  this  ar- 
rival of  recruits,  and  this  knowledge  of  the  polit- 
ical situation  revealed  by  treneral  Lovejoy,  at  once 
settled  Dr.  Whitman  upon  his  line  of  duty. 

To  Mrs.  Whitman  he  at  once  explained  the  situ- 
ation, and  said  he  felt  impelled  to  go  to  Washing- 
ton. She  was  a  missionary's  wife,  a  courageous, 
true-hearted,  patriotic  woman,  who  loved  and 
believed  in  her  husband,  and  at  once  consented. 
Under  the  rules  the  local  members  of  the  Mission 
had  to  be  consulted,  and  runners  were  at  once 
dis])al(hed  to  the  several  stations,  and  all  re- 
sponded i)romptly,  as  the  demand  was  for  their 
iuimediate  presence. 

There  was  a  second  rule  governing  gii.i  it  -r'ases 
of  leave  of  absence,  and  that  was  the  sanction, 
from  headquarters,  of  the  American  Board  in 
Boston.  But  in  this  emergency  Dr.  Whitman 
jprefe  i\i>d  to  take  all  the  responsibility  and  cut 


il 


WHITMAN'S  RESOLVE. 


103 


the  red  tape.  Dr.  Eells,  one  of  the  n<)hk\st  of  the 
ohl  Miswionsii'ies,  writes  an  account  of  that  con- 
ference, and  it  is  all  the  more  valnahle  from  the 
fact  that  he  was  oi)])ose(l  to  the  enteri)rise. 

Dr.  Eells  says:  "The  i)nr])OHe  of  Dr.  Whitman 
was  fixed.  In  his  estimation  the  savins-  of  Ore- 
gon to  the  ITniled  States  was  of  paramount  im- 
portance, and  he  would  make  the  attempt  to  do 
so,  even  if  he  had  to  witlulraw  from  the  Mission 
in  order  to  acc()jii])lish  his  ])nr])()se.  In  rei)ly  to 
considerations  intended  to  hold  Dr.  Whitman  to 
his  assigned  work,  he  said:  'I  am  not  expatriated 
by  becoming  a  missionary.' 

"The  id<'a  of  his  witlidrawal  could  not  be  en- 
tertained. Tluu-efore,  to  retain  him  in  the  Mis- 
sion, a  vote  to  a])])rove  of  his  making  this  perilous 
endeavor  prevailed." 

In  addition  to  this  the  Doctor  undoubtedly  in- 
tended to  visit  the  American  lioard  and  explain 
the  mission  work  and  its  needs,  and  protest 
against  some  of  its  orders.  But  in  this  there  was 
no  need  of  such  haste  as  to  cause  the  mid-winter 
journey.  In  this  note  of  Dr.  Eells  the  explana- 
tion is  doubtless  correct. 

Dr.  Spalding  says:  "Dr.  Whitman's  last  re- 
marks were,  as  he  mounted  his  horse  for  the  long 
journey:  'If  the  Board  dismisses  me,  I  will  do 
what  I  can  to  save  Oregon  to  the  country.     My 


lit 


1(1 


II  M 


<mi 


I) 


m  i4 


I  I 


m 


r 

I' 

• 

1  '1 

!• 

d 

m 


'i    lii 


104         HOW  MARCtTS  WHITMAN  SAV^JD  OREGON. 

lifo  is  of  but  little  worth  if  I  can  save  tliis  couutry 
to  the  Aiiiericau  ])e(>i)Ie.'  " 

Tlwy  all  repivdei  it  a  most  perilous  iinder- 
takitijx^  They  knew  well  of  the  hardshi])s  of  such 
a  joui'iiey  in  tlie  siiimiier  season,  wl:«n  j>Tass  eouhl 
be  foiiiid  to  -Ved  the  stock,  and  men  live  in  com- 
f'trt  in  the  open  air.  But  to  all  their  pleadings 
ami  specilicatious  of  danj^er,  Dr.  Whitman  had  but 
one  reply,  "I  must  go."  As  Dr.  Eells  says:— 
"They  tiually  all  yielded  when  he  said,  'I  will  go, 
even  if  I  have  to  break  my  connection  with  the 
Ame.'ican  Board.'"  They  all  loved  him,  and  he 
was  too  valuable  a  man  for  them  to  allow  that. 

Besides,  they  became  thoroughly  convinced  that 
the  man  and  the  missionary  had  received  a  call 
from  a  higher  s<»urce  than  an  earthly  one,  and  a 
missionary  board  should  not  stand  in  the  way.  It 
w  as  resolved  that  he  must  not  be  allowed  to  make 
such  a  journey  alone.  A  call  was  at  once  made, 
"Who  V  ill  volunteer  to  go  with  him?"  .\gain  the 
unseen  i>ower  was  experienced  when  (}en<'ral 
Lovejoy  said:     "I  will  g(»  with  Dr.  Whitnnin." 

The  unui  seems  to  have  been  sent  for  just  such  a 
purpose.  Aside  from  the  fact  that  he  was  tired 
out  with  the  long  live  months'  ride  ui)on  the 
plains,  and  had  not  been  fully  rested,  no  better 
man  could  have  been  chosen,  lie  was  an  edu- 
«ated,  (Mii'istian  gentlenum,  full  of  cheerfulness, 
brave,  cautious,  an<l  a  true  friend. 


THE  DINNER  AT  THE  FORT. 


105 


Mrs.  Wliitinau,  in  her  diary,  dwells  upon  this 
with  loving-  thoninlit fulness,  and  lier  soul  breaks 
forth  in  tliaiiksoivinj;-  to  the  «;()od  Father  above, 
who  lias  sent  so  o()od  and  true  a  coni])anion  for 
the  loni;-  and  dangerous  journey.  She  refers  to 
it  a.nain  and  aj;ain  thai  he  will  lave  a  friend  in 
his  hours  of  peril  and  da  •'xev,  and  not  have  to  de- 
pend entirely  upon  the  sj'.  /ai^es  for  hi; 


rr 


so<;iety 


The  conference  i)assed  a  resolution,  as  stated, 
.Uivin^-  leave  of  absence  and  fixed  the  time  for  his 
startinj--  in  "live  days"  from  that  day.  It  was  not 
often  they  had  sue',  an  o}>portunity  for  letter- 
carriers,  and  each  be<;an  a  vohunincas  cor- 
respondence. 

The  Doctor  set  ab<>ut  his  active  preparations, 
arran^injj^  his  outilt  and  seeinj;-  that  every t hi n<j;- 
was  in  ordiM-.  The  next  «hiy  lie  had  a  call  to  see  a 
sick  man  at  old  Fort  Walla  Walla,  and  as  he 
ne(Mled  many  articles  f(U-  his  joiirney  which  could 
be  had  there,  he  went  witli  this  double  purpose. 
lie  found  at  the  Fort  a  score  or  more  of  traders, 
clerks  and  leading;-  men  of  the  Hudson  IJay  Tom- 
l>any,  assembled   there.      Thev    were    nearlv  all 


FnjL;lislimen,  and  the  discussion 


s(»(»n  turned  ujjon 


the  treaty,  an<l  the  outlook,  uu(*l  as  mi^ht  be  in- 
ferred, was  not  cheerin}»-  to  Whitman.  Hut  his 
object  was  to  ^'ain  inl'ormat 


urn  aind  not  to  aruue 


The  dinner  wa 


s  soon  announced  and  the  1)( 


)C 


tor  sat  down  to  a  royal  banquet  with  his  jovial 


li 


',  f ' 


1 

i^^^Hh 

gp: 

( 

1 

tmam 

m^ 


106 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


*  k  •; 


^'R 


English  friends.     For  no  man  was  more  lii«>:lily 

estt 

factor 


emed  by  all  than  was  Whitman.     The  chief 

at  Vam-onvf  r,  Dr.  Mc'Louj»hliu,  from  the 

)utset  of  their  acquaintance,  took  a  liking 


very 

to  both  the  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Whitman,  and  in  hun- 
dreds of  cases  showed  them  marked  an<l  fatherly 
kindness.  Mrs.  Whitman,  in  her  diary,  recently 
published  in  the  proce(Mlings  of  the  Oregon  State 
Historical  Society,  mainly  in  the  years  1891  and 
1803,  often  refers  to  the  fatherly  kindness  of  the 
good  old  nnui  Avhose  home  she  shared  for  weeks 
and  months,  and  he  begged  her  when  first  reach- 
ing Oregon  to  stoj)  all  winter  and  wait  until  her 
own  humble  home  could  be  made  comfortable. 

But  while  the  com])any  were  enjoying  their 
re])ast,  an  exi)ress  uu'ssenger  of  the  co>ni)any  ar 
rived  from  Fort  Oolville,  three  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  up  the  Oohunbia,  and  electrified  his  audi- 
ence by  the  announceuKMil  thtit  a  cohmy  of  (me 
hundred  and  forty  lOnglishmen  and  Canadians 
were  on  the  road. 

Tn  such  a  company  it  is  easy  to  see  such  an 
announcement  was  (»xciting  news.  One  young 
priest  threw  his  caj)  in  the  air  and  shouted, 
"Hurrah  f<u'  Oregon — America  is  too  late,  we 
have  got  the  c«uintry." 

Di'.  Whitman  carefully  'Mjucealed  all  his  inten- 
tions—in fact,  this  wiis  eujoined  ui>on  all  the  mis- 
sionary band,  as  publicity  would  likely  defeat  any 


«i 


I  , 


}  !    \ 


THE  START. 


107 


hope  of  good  results.  Those  who  will  take  the 
pains  to  read  Mrs.  Whitman's  diar^'  will  notice 
how  she  avoids  saving  anything  to  excite  com- 
ment regarding  the  purposes  of  his  winter  visit  to 
Washington.  In  her  letter  to  her  father  and 
mother  she  simph'  says:  "I  expect  my  dear  hus- 
band will  be  so  full  of  his  great  work  that  he  will 
forget  to  tell  you  of  our  life  in  Oregon.  He  can 
exi)hiin  what  it  is,"  etc. 

It  is  said  "Women  cannot  keep  a  secret,"  but 
here  is  an  instance  of  one  that  did.  In  his  ab- 
sence she  visited  Fort  Vancouver,  Astoria,  Oregon 
(Mty,  and  other  points.  She  is  painstaking  in 
keeping  a  regular  record  of  every-day  events. 
But  the  secret  of  his  mission  to  the  States  was  per- 
fectly safe  with  the  good  wife. 

As  soon  as  the  Doctor  could  with  politeness 
excuse  himself,  he  mounted  his  pony  and  galloi)ed 
away  home,  pondering  the  news  he  had  received. 
By  the  time  he  reached  ^^'aiilatpui  he  resolv<>d 
there  must  be  no  tarrying  for  "live  days."  On 
the  morning  of  the  third  day  after  the  conference 
tile  spirit  was  upon  hiui,  and  lie  took  such  mes- 
sages as  were  reaHy,  and  <»n  October  JM,  1842,  bade 
a  long  good-bye  to  his  wife  and  lunne,  and  the  two 
men,  their  guide,  and  three  pack  mules,  began 
that  ever  nu'morable  journey — escorted  for  a  long 
distance  by  many  Cayr.se  braves. 

Intelligent  readers  of  all  classes  can  easily  mark 


'^^Vl 

1    I'ff 

'M     n 

1  '  ^! 

1  'S 

i 

m 

1  11 

1 1 

I  '''1 

If 

H 

f  • 

« Jlj 


»■  A 


I 


i! 


iilifl 

1  <  I 

ilti 

iii 

'■  i 

Ml 

i 

if 

\ 

i 

108 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


tli(»  licnusiu  of  sucli  iiH  undcrtjikinn'  uikUm*  such 
cinMiinsliniccs,  but  ilic  old  |)liniisuiini  jind  llic 
niouutaiuccr  who  know  tho  t('iTo"s  <d'  (he  j.-drncx , 
will  point  to  it  Jis  wilhont  n  i)in'jHl('l  in  nil  history, 
h  wns  snrniiscd  by  most  (hill  il  was  "A  i'i<lodowii 
(o  (ho  Vi'lioy  of  (he  sliii(h)W  of  doalh." 

It  is  couirorlinj;'  and  assui'inj»;  of  Ihal  |)ow('r 
wiiich  sustains  a  boliovinji-  soul,  to  turn  the  jki^cs 
of  (ho  diarv  of  Mrs.  W'iiitinan,  as  dav  bv  dav  she 
fcdlows  tho  lit  do  caravan  with  thou^li(  and 
prayor,  and  soo  wi(h  wha(  conlidonco  sho  ox- 
prossos  tho  boliof  that  an  Alniij^hty  Arm  is  i:,uid- 
injA'  hor  lovod  ono  in  safety  (hrou.u'h  all  perils. 

It  is  easy  to  surmiso  (ho  toolings  of  (ho  Mis- 
sionary band  whon  thcv  sent  in  thoir  lottors  and 
nn'ssap,('s  and  loarno<l  that  tho  Doctor  was  far  «>n 
his  journoy  and  had  not  wait(Hl  tho  rcMpiii'od  limit 
of  "(ivo  (lavs." 

Tl.*'  ocho  of  dissatisfaction  was  hoard  oven  for 
voars  after,  vorv  much  to  tho  disturbance  of  the 
"••ood  wife.  And  she  in  her  diary  e.\press»»s  pi'o- 
lound  thankfulness  ^^  hen,  years  after,  the  last 
vesti«»"e  of  triticism  ceased  and  the  (»ld  coi'diality 
wUvS  restored. 

As  for  Dr.  Whitman,  with  liis  wlude  bein«»-  im- 
pressed with  the  im]»ortance  of  his  work  and  the 
ueed  for  haste,  it  is  doubtful  whethei'  he  even  re- 
membered the  "live  davs"  limit. 

The  ijreat  thoniiht  with  him  was,  I  must  reach 


t 


ATTEMPT  TO  STOP  WHITMAN. 


109 


Wnshinjiloii  before  Con^ivsH  adjourns,  or  all  may 
bo  lost.  The  after  disclosures  conviiu'ed  the  aj;- 
p;rieved  Missionaries  tliat  Whitman  was  rijj;ht,  and 
they  deei)iy  rejjjretted  some  of  the  sharp  criticisms 
they  made  and  wrote  East. 

With  horses  fresh,  the  little  comi)any  made  a 
rai)id  ride,  reachinjjj  Fort  Ilall  in  eleven  days. 
The  roa<l  tlius  far  was  i>lain  and  familiar  to  every 
member  of  the  party.  Prior  to  leaving;  home 
there  had  been  rumors  that  the  HIackfoot  Indians 
had  suddenly  p;rown  hostile,  and  would  make  the 
joni'ney  daufjjerous  alon<;-  the  rejjjular  line  of  travel. 

I'pon  I'eachin^-  Fort  Ilall,  Captain  (Jrant,  who 
seems  to  have  been  jdaced  at  that  ]>oint  solely 
to  disc(mra«;e  and  defeat  immi}j;ration,  set  about 
his  task  in  the  usual  way.  Without  knowing,  he 
sliH'wdly  suspected  that  the  old  Missionary  had 
business  of  importance  on  hand  which  it  would 
be  well  to  thwart,  lie  had  before  had  many  a 
tilt  with  \Miitman  and  knew  somethin<j!;  of  his 
determination.  It  was  (Jrant  who  had  almost 
compelle<l  every  incoming''  settler  to  forsake  his 
wajL;<ui  at  Fort  Hall,  sa«rilice  his  ;;'oods,  aiul  force 
women  and  children  to  ride  on  horseback  or  };o  on 
foot  the  balance  of  the  journey. 

Six  years  befor*'  he  had  plead  with  Whitman 
to  do  this,  and  had  failed,  and  Whitman  had  thus 
taken  the  tirst  wa^on  into  ()reji,<)n  that  ever 
crossed  the  Hockies.     Now  he  set  about  to  defeat 


KH 


mm 


lit  >^ 


'I .'  1 1 


'       I;  >  .   i-    .  >i   !    : 


.ii!     I  f !  i  !t 
■  >•'    ■ 


i-v-    n 


*iH 


•i    't,    ■'   V'M 


:| 


110         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

his  journey  to  the  States.  He  told  of  the  hope- 
lessness of  a  journey  over  the  Hoeky  Mountains, 
with  snow  already  twenty  feet  deep.  He  also  in- 
formed him  that  from  recent  advices  the  Sioux 
and  Pawnee  Indians  were  at  war,  and  it  would  be 
almost  certain  death  to  the  party  to  undertake  to 
pass  through  their  country. 

This,  all  told  for  a  single  purpose,  was  partly 
true  and  partly  false.  The  writer,  a  few  years 
after,  when  war  broke  out  between  the  (lieyennes 
and  the  l»awnees,  passed  entirely  through  the 
Cheyenne  country  and  was  treated  with  the  ut- 
most courtesy  and  kindness  by  the  Cheyenne 
braves. 

But  Captain  Grant's  argument  had  more  effect 
upon  Whitman  than  upon  a  former  occasion.  The 
Captain  even  began  to  hope  that  he  had  effectually 
blocked  the  way.  IJut  he  was  dealing  with  a  man 
of  great  grit,  not  easily  discouraged,  and,  we  nuiy 
say  it  reverently,  an  inspired  man.  He  had 
started  to  go  to  the  States  and  he  would  continue 
his  journey. 

Captain  Grant  was  at  his  wits'  end.  He  had  no 
authority  to  stop  Whitman  and  his  party;  he  car- 
ried with  him  a  permit  signed  by  "Lewis  Cass,  Sec- 
retary of  War,"  commanding  all  in  autliority  to 
I)rotect,  aid,  etc. 

The  American  Board  was  as  careful  in  having 
all  Oregon  missionaries  armed  witli  such  creden- 


TERRIBLE  SNOW  STORMS. 


Ill 


tials  as  if  sendiuj;'  theiii  to  a  foreign  land,  and,  in 
fact,  there  was  no  vesti;re  of  American  government 
in  Oregon  in  that  day.  The  llndson  Bay  Company, 
wholly  English,  rnled  over  everything,  whether 
whites  or  Indians. 

Mnch  to  Captain  Grant's  chagrin.  Whitman,  in- 
stead of  tnrning  backward,  set  ont  sontheast  to 
discover  a  new  route  to  the  States.  He  knew  in  a 
general  way  the  lay  of  the  mountain  ranges,  but 
he  had  never  heard  that  a  white  mai's  foot  had 
passed  that  way.  First  east  and  south  from  Fort 
Hall,  in  the  direction  of  the  now  present  site  of 
Salt  Lake  City,  from  thence  to  Fort  Uintah  and 
Fort  Uncompahgra,  then  to  Taos,  Santa  Fe,  to 
Bent's  Fort,  and  St.  Louis.  This  course  led  them 
over  some  very  rough  mountainous  countiw. 

In  his  diary  Gen.  Lovejoy  says:  "From  Fort 
Hall  to  Fort  Uintah  we  met  with  terriblv  severe 
weather.  The  deep  snow  caused  us  to  lose  much 
time.  Here  we  took  a  new  guide  to  Fort  Uncom- 
pahgra on  Grand  Kiver  in  Spanish  country,  which 
we  safely  reached  and  enqdoyed  a  new  guide  there. 
Passing  over  a  high  mountain  on  our  way  to  Taos 
we  encountered  a  terrible  snow  storm,  which  com- 
pelled us  to  seek  shelter  in  a  dark  detile,  and  al- 
though we  made  several  attempts  to  press  on,  we 
were  detained  some  ten  days.  Wlien  we  got  upon 
the  mountain  again  we  met  with  auothcn*  violent 
snow    storm,    which    almost     blinded    man    and 


^1 

1>, 

1! 

lt 

i' 

r 

i' 

• 

ft ' ' 

'  3  ' 
l! 

1 

1 

11 


I 


:i 


11  !  ^  I 


pf" 

i  ' 

1 

P'  ' 

!,  ' 

if 

1      < 

1 

Bitl*^^ 

L 

1 

1,", 
4 

112         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


y!    : 


■•i 


beast.  The  pelting  snow  and  cold  made  the  dumb 
brutes  well-nigh  iinnianageable." 

Finally  the  guide  stopped  and  acknowledged  he 
was  lost  and  would  go  no  farther,  and  they  re- 
solved to  return  to  their  camp  in  the  sheltered  ra- 
vine. But  the  drifting  snov>^  had  obliterated  every 
sign  of  the  path  by  which  they  had  come,  and  the 
guide  acknowledged  that  he  could  not  direct  the 
Avay.  In  this  dire  dilemma,  says  Gen.  Lovejoy, 
"Dr.  Whitman  dismounted  and  upon  his  knees 
in  the  snow  commended  himself,  his  distant  wife, 
his  missionary  companions  and  work,  and  his 
Oregon,  to  the  Infinite  One  for  guidance  and  pro- 
tection. 

"The  lead  mule  left  to  himself  by  the  guide, 
turning  his  long  ears  this  way  and  that,  finally 
started  plunging  through  the  snow  drifts,  his 
Mexican  guide  and  all  the  party  following  instead 
of  guiding,  the  old  guide  remarking:  'This  mule 
will  find  the  camp  if  he  can  live  long  enough  to 
reach  it.'  And  he  did."  As  woodsmen  well  know 
this  knowledge  of  directions  in  dumb  brutes  is 
far  superior  often  to  the  wisest  judgment  of  men. 

The  writer  well  remeud)ers  a  terrible  experi- 
ence when  lost  in  the  great  forests  of  Arkansas, 
covered  with  the  back  water  from  the  Mississippi 
Eiver,  which  was  rapidly  rising.  Two  of  us  rode 
for  hours.  The  water  would  grow  deeper  in  one 
direction;  we  would  try  another  and  find  it  no  bet- 


jjiHi 


A   HORSE   AS   GUIDE. 


113 


ter;  we  were  hopelessly  lost.  My  coinpaiiioii 
was  an  experienced  woodsman  and  claimed  that 
he  was  goinji-  in  the  ri};ht  direction,  so  I  followed 
until  in  despair  I  called  to  him,  and  showed  him 
the  high  water  mark  upon  the  trees  ten  feet  above 
our  heads  as  we  sat  upon  our  horses. 

I  remarked:  "I  have  followed  you;  now  you 
follow  me.  I  am  going  to  let  my  old  horse  find 
the  way  out."  1  gave  him  the  rein;  he  seemed 
to  understand  it.  He  ruiseil  his  head,  took  an 
observation,  turned  at  right  angles  from  the  way 
we  had  insisted  was  our  course,  wound  around  logs 
and  past  marshes,  and  in  two  hours  brought  us 
safely  to  camp." 

This  incident  of  Dr.  Whitman's  mule,  as  well 
as  all  such,  educates  one  in  kindness  to  all  dumb 
aninuil  life. 

Reaching  camp  the  guide  at  once  announced 
that,  "I  will  go  no  farther;  the  way  is  impossi- 
ble." "This,"  says  Gen.  Lovejoy,  "was  a  terrible 
bloAV  to  Dr.  Whitman.  ITe  had  already  lost  more 
than  ten  days  of  valuable  time."  But  it  would  be 
impossible  to  move  without  a  guide.  Whitman 
was  a  man  who  knew  no  such  word  as  fail.  His 
order  was:    "I  must  go  on." 

There  was  but  one  thing  to  do.  He  said  to  Gen. 
Lovejoy:  "You  stay  in  camp  and  recuperate  and 
feed  the  stock,  and  I  will  return  with  the  guide  to 
Fort  Uncompahgra,  and  get  a  new  man." 


'.if 


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114        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

And  so  Lovojoy  bej?an  "recuperation,"  and  re- 
cuperated his  dumb  animals  by  collectinj;  the 
brush  and  inner  bark  of  the  willows  upon  which 
they  fed.  It  is  astonishing-  how  a  mule  or  horse 
on  the  plains  can  find  food  enouj>h  to  live  on,  under 
such  conditions. 

The  writer  had  a  ^^et  mule  in  one  of  his  journeys 
over  the  ^reat  plains,  which  he  would  tie  to  a  sajj^e 
bush  near  the  tent  when  not  a  vestige  of  j^rass  was 
anywhere  in  sight,  and  yet  waking  up  in  the  night 
at  any  hour  I  would  hear  Ken  pawing  and  chew- 
ing. He  would  paw  up  the  tender  roots  of  the  sage 
and  in  the  morning  look  as  plump  and  full  as  if 
he  had  feasted  on  good  No.  2  corn. 

"The  doctor,"  says  Lovejoy,  "was  gone  just  one 
week,  when  he  again  reached  our  camp  in  the  ra- 
vine with  a  new  guide." 

The  storm  abated  and  they  passed  over  the 
mountain  and  made  good  jn'ogress  toward  Taos. 

Their  most  severe  experience  was  on  reaching 
Grand  River.  People  who  know,  mark  this  as  one 
of  the  most  dangerous  and  treacherous  rivers  in 
the  West.  Its  rapid,  deep,  cold  current,  even  in 
the  Summer,  is  very  mucli  dreaded.  Hundreds  of 
peo])le  have  lost  their  lives  in  it.  Where  they 
struck  the  Grand  it  was  about  six  hundred  feet 
wide.  Two  hundred  feet  u])on  ench  shore  was  solid 
ice,  while  a  rushing  torrent  two  hundred  feet  wide 
was  between. 


SWIMMING  THE  GRAND  RIVER. 


116 


The  guide  studied  it,  and  said:  "It  is  too  dan- 
gerous to  attempt  to  cross."  "We  must  cross,  aid 
at  once,"  said  Whitman.  He  got  down  from  his 
horse,  cut  a  wiHow  pole  eight  feet  long,  put  it  upon 
his  shoulder,  and  after  remounting,  said:  "Now 
jou  shove  me  off."  Lovejoy  and  the  guide  did  as 
ordered,  and  the  General  says:  "Both  horse  and 
rider  temporarily  went  out  of  sight,  but  soon  ap- 
l)eared,  swimming.  The  horse  struck  the  rocky 
bottom  and  wadc^l  toward  the  shore  where  the 
doctor,  dismounting,  broke  the  ice  with  his  pole 
and  helped  his  horse  put.  Wood  was  plentiful 
and  he  soon  had  a  roaring  tire.  As  readers  well 
know,  in  a  wild  country  where  the  lead  animal 
has  gone  ahead,  the  rest  are  eager  to  follow,  re- 
gardless of  danger,  and  the  General  and  his  guide, 
after  breaking  the  ice,  had  no  difficulty  in  per- 
suading their  horses  and  pack-mules  to  make  the 
plunge  into  the  icy  flood.  They  all  landed  in  safety 
and  spent  the  day  in  thoroughly  drying  out. 

"Is  the  route  passable?"  asked  Napoleon  of  his 
eugineer.  "Barely  possible,  sire,"  replied  the  engi- 
neer. "Then  let  the  column  move  at  once,"  said 
the  Great  Commander.  The  reader,  in  the  inci- 
dent of  the  Grand  and  on  the  mountains,  sees  the 
same  hero  who  refused  to  believe  the  "impossible" 
of  Captain  Grant,  at  Fort  Hall,  and  took  that  "his- 
toric wagon"  to  Oregon.     It  looked  like  a  small 


'fill 


''■l1 

'1 

<'■' 

^l| 

t; ,.' 

*  =  1 

■  !; 

^ 

«  '  I 

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i 

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i-i 

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i' "I   r^ 


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#':li 


I* 


I 


ii    I-  . 


116         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

evoiit  to  take  a  wajion  to  Orep:on,  shattered  and 
battered  by  the  rocks  and  bes<'tnients  of  the  h)n<i- 
three  thonsand  mih^  jonrne.v.  The  good  wife  many 
times  nionrned  that  the  doctor  shonhl  "Wear  him- 
self out  in  s'ettinjr  that  waj»-ou  thronj^h."  "Yes- 
terday'," she  says,  "it  was  overset  in  the  river  and 
he  was  wet  from  head  to  foot  j;"ettin<>'  it  out;  to- 
day it  was  upset  on  the  mountain  side,  and  it  was 
hard  work  to  save  it."  The  d(nir  woman  did  not 
know  it  was  an  inspired  waj>'on,  the  very  imple- 
ment upon  which  the  fate  of  Orej-on  wouhl  turn. 
Small  events  are  sometimes  portentous,  and  the 
waj»on  that  Whitman  wheeled  into  Oregon,  as  we 
shall  soon  see,  was  of  this  character. 

One  of  the  Providential  events  was,  that  the  lit- 
tle company  had  been  turned  asi(k'  from  the  at- 
tempt to  make  the  journey  over  the  direct  route 
and  sent  over  this  unexplored  course,  fully  one 
thousand  miles  longer.  The  winter  of  1842-43  was 
very  cold,  and  the  snow  thrt)ughout  the  West  was 
heavy.  From  many  of  these  storms  they  were 
protected  by  the  ranges  of  high  mountains,  and 
what  was  of  great  value,  had  plenty  of  firewood ; 
while  on  the  other  route  for  a  thousand  miles  they 
would  have  had  to  depend  mainly  upon  buffalo 
chips  for  fir(>,  which  it  would  have  been  impossi- 
ble to  find  when  the  ground  was  covered  with 
snow.  To  the  traveler  good  fires  in  camp  are  a 
great  comfort. 


■■  ^^ri: 


OUT  OP  PROVISIONS. 


117 


Even  as  it  was,  they  suffered  from  the  cold,  all 
of  them  being  severely  frosted.  Dr.  Whitman, 
when  he  reached  Washington,  was  suffering  from 
frozen  feet,  hands  and  ears,  althougli  lie  had  taken 
every  precaution  to  protect  himself  and  his  com- 
panions. 

The  many  vexations  delays  had  caused  not  only 
the  loss  of  valuable  time,  but  they  had  run  out  of 
provisions.  A  dog  had  accompanied  the  party 
and  they  ate  him;  a  mule  came  next,  and  that  kept 
them  until  they  came  to  Santa  Fe,  Avliere  there 
was  plenty.  Santa  Fe  is  one  of  the  oldest  cities 
upon  the  continent  occupied  by  English-speaking 
people.  The  doctor,  anxious  for  news,  could  tin<l 
little  there,  and  only  stopped  long  enougli  to  re- 
cruit his  supplies.  lie  was  in  no  mood  to  enjoy  the 
anti(iuities  of  this  favorite  resort  of  all  the  heroes 
of  the  plains. 

Pushing  on  over  the  treeless  prairies,  they  made 
good  headway  toward  Bent's  Fort  «m  the  head- 
waters of  the  Arkansas.  The  grass  for  the  horses 
was  plentiful.  That  is  one  of  the  prime  reijuisites 
of  the  campaigner  upon  the  plains.  Had  there 
been  time  for  hunting,  all  along  their  route  they 
could  have  captured  any  amount  of  wild  game, 
but  as  it  was,  the}'  attempted  nothing  except  it 
came  directly  in  the  way.  They  even  went  hun- 
gry rather  than  lose  an  hour  in  the  chase. 


lU 


IP  :!l 

'  yiii 


M|3j|„ 


MMi 


i' 


LidH  )    f'l 


I' 


118 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


There  was  one  little  incident  which  may  seem 
very  small,  but  the  old  campaigner  will  see  that  it 
was  big  with  importance.  They  lost  their  axe.  It 
was  after  a  long  tedious  day  crossing  a  bleak 
prairie,  when  they  reached  one  of  the  tributaries 
of  the  Arkansas  Kiver.  On  the  opposite  side  was 
wood  in  great  plenty.  On  their  side  there  was 
none.  The  river  was  frozen  over  with  smooth, 
clear  ice,  scarcely  thick  enough  to  bear  a  man. 
They  must  have  wood. 

The  doctor  seized  the  axe,  lay  down  on  the  ice 
and  snaked  himself  across  on  the  thin  crust.  He 
cut  loads  of  wood  and  pushed  it  before  him  or 
skated  it  across  and  returned  in  safety;  but  un- 
fortunately split  the  axe  helve.  This  they  soon 
remedied  by  binding  it  with  a  fresh  deer  skin 
thong.  I?ut  as  it  lay  in  the  edge  of  the  tent  that 
night,  a  thieving  wolf  wanting  the  deer  skin,  took 
the  axe  and  all,  and  tliey  could  find  no  trace  of  it. 
The  great  good  fortune  Avas,  that  such  a  catastro- 
plie  did  not  occur  a  thousand  miles  back.  It  is 
barely  possible  it  might  have  defeated  the  enter- 
prise. 

"When  within  about  four  days'  journey  of 
Bent's  Fort,"  says  (}en.  Lovejoy,  "we  met  George 
Hent,  a  brotlu'r  of  (Jen.  Bent,  with  a  caravan  on 
his  way  to  Taos.  He  told  us  that  a  party  of  moun- 
tain men  would  leave  Bent's  Fort  in  a  few  days 


|IPP^ 


(   r 


DR.   WHITMAN   LOST. 


119 


for  St.  Louis,  but  said  we  could  not  reach  the  fort 
with  our  pack  animals  in  time  to  join  the  party. 

"The  doctor  beinji;-  very  anxious  to  join  it,  and 
push  on  to  AYasliinj^tou,  concluded  to  leave  myself 
and  ^uide  with  the  ])aclvs,  and  he  himself  taking 
the  best  animal,  with  soiiiv-  bedding  and  a  small 
allowance  of  provisions,  started  on  alone,  hoping 
by  rapid  traveling  to  reach  the  fort  before  the 
party  left.  But  to  do  so  he  would  have  to  travel 
upon  the  Sabbath,  something  we  had  not  done  be- 
fore. 

"Mvself  and  j»uide  traveled  slowlv  and  reached 
thf  fort  in  four  days,  but  imagine  my  astonish- 
ment when  told  the  doctor  had  not  arrived  nor 
been  heard  from.  As  this  portion  of  the  journey 
was  infested  by  gangs  of  gray  wolves,  tliat  had 
been  half  starve<l  during  the  snows  and  cold 
weather,  our  anxiety  for  tlie  doctor's  safety  was 
greatly  increased.  livery  night  our  camp  would 
be  surrounded  by  them  coming  even  to  the  door  of 
the  tent,  and  everything  eatable  had  to  be  care- 
fully stored  and  our  animals  picketed  where  we 
could  defend  them  with  our  rifles;  when  a  wolf 
fell  he  would  instantly  be  devoured  by  his  fellows. 

"If  not  kill(Ml  we  knew  the  doctor  was  lost. 
Being  furnished  by  the  gentlemen  of  the  fort  with 
a  good  gui<le  I  started  to  search  for  him  and  trav- 
cUmI  ny)  the  river  about  one  hundred  miles.  I 
learned  bv  the  Indians  that  a  man  who  was  h»st 


■I*: ' 


I 


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••■IS 


120        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

bad  been  there  and  he  was  trying  to  find  Bent'vS 
Fort.  They  said  they  had  directed  liim  down  the 
river  and  how  to  find  the  fort.  I  Imew  from  their 
description  that  it  was  the  doctor,  and  I  returned 
as  rapidly  as  possible;  but  he  had  not  arrived. 

"Late  in  the  afternoon  he  came  in  much  fatigued 
and  almost  despondino-.  He  said  that  Cxod  had 
hindered  him  for  traveling  on  the  Holy  Sabbath." 
Says  General  Lovejoy:  "This  was  the  only  time  I 
ever  knew  him  to  travel  on  Sunday." 

The  party  which  tlie  doctor  was  to  accompany 
to  St.  Louis  had  already  started,  but  was  kindly 
stopped  by  a  runner,  and  it  was  in  camp  waiting 
his  coming.  Tired  as  he  was,  he  tarried  but  a  sin- 
gle night  at  Fort  Bent,  and  again  with  a  guid(^ 
hurried  (m  to  overtake  the  caravan.  This  was  a 
dangerous  part  of  the  journey.  Savage  beasts  and 
savage  men  were  both  to  be  fean^d. 

In  pioneer  days  the  borders  of  civilization  w<'re 
ahvays  infested  by  the  worst  class  of  people,  both 
whites  and  Indians.  This  made  the  doct(n'  more 
anxious  for  an  escoi-t.  (len.  Lovejoy  remained  at 
the  fort  until  he  entirely  recovered  from  his 
faUgne,  and  went  (m  with  the  next  caravan  ])ass- 
ing  eastward  to  St.  Louis.  In  a  letter  to  Dr.  Atkin- 
son, published  in  full  in  the  appendix  to  this  vol- 
ume, (Jen.  L(»vejoy  recit<'s  many  interesting  inci- 
dents of  this  journey.    Before  reaching  St.  Louis, 


PERSONAL  APPEARANCE  OF  WHITMAN. 


121 


Gen.  Lovejoy  immediately  bejijan  to  advertise  tlie 
emiftTation  for  the  following  May. 

Dr.  Barrows,  in  his  fine  volume,  "Oregon — the 
Struggle  for  Possession,"  says:  "Upon  the  arrival 
of  Dr.  Whitman  in  St.  Louis  it  was  my  good  for- 
tune that  he  should  be  quartered  as  a  guest  under 
the  same  roof  and  at  the  same  table  with  me." 
Those  interested  in  the  news  frcmi  the  plains,  the 
trappers  and  traders  in  furs  and  Indian  goods, 
gathered  about  him  and  beset  him  with  a  multi- 
tude of  questions.  Answering  them  courteously 
he  in  turn  asked  about  Congress.  Whether  the 
Ashburton  Tnvity  had  been  concluded?  and 
whether  it  covered  the  Northwest  Territory?  The 
treaty  helearncMl  had  been  signed  August  9th,  long 
before  he  left  Oregon,  and  had  been  confirmed  by 
the  Senate  and  signed  by  the  President  on  Novem- 
ber 10th,  while  he  was  llounderinp;  in  the  snow 
upon  the  mountains." 

P.ut  the  Oregon  (juesf  i(m  was  still  open,  and  only 
the  few  acres  U])  in  Maine  had  been  fixed.  The 
question  he  was  eager  to  have  answered  was:  "Is 
the  Oregon  (piestion  still  p<>nding,  and  can  I  get 
there  bef<»re  Congress  adjourns?"  The  river  was 
frozen,  and  lie  had  to  <h'pend  upon  tlie  stage,  and 
even  from  St.  Louis  a  j(>urney  to  Washington  in 
midwinter  at  that  lime,  was  no  small  matter.  lUit 
to  a  man  like  Whitman  with  mus(  les  trained,  and 


fi 


M 


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'  N'  *l  ilk 

m 


,i]i 


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:<   if    Li 


m: 


j« 


if 


il 


122        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

a  brain  wbicli  never  seemed  to  tire,  it  was  counted 
as  nothing. 

Dr.  Barrowt<  says:  "Marcus  Wliitnian  once  seen, 
and  in  our  family  circle,  telling  of  his  business,  he 
had  but  one,  was  a  man  not  to  be  forgotten  by  the 
writer.  He  was  of  medium  height,  more  compact 
than  spare,  a  stout  shoulder,  and  hirge  head  not 
much  above  it,  covered  with  stiff  iron  gray  hair, 
while  his  face  carried  all  the  moustache  and 
whiskers  that  four  months  had  been  able  to  put 
on  it.  lie  carried  himself  awkwardly,  though  per- 
haps courteously  enough  for  trappers,  Indians, 
mules  and  griz/Jies,  his  principal  company  for  six 
years.  lie  seemed  built  as  a  man  for  whom  more 
stock  had  been  furnished  than  worked  in  symmet- 
rically and  gracefully. 

"There  was  nothing  quick  in  his  motion  or 
speech,  and  no  trace  of  a  fanatic;  but  under  con- 
trol of  a  thorough  knowledge  of  his  business,  and 
with  deep,  ardent  convictions  about  it,  he  was  a 
profound  enthusiast.  A  willful  resoluticm  and  a 
tenaci<uis  earnestness  would  imi)ress  you  as  mark- 
ing the  man. 

"Ho  wore  coarse  fur  garments  with  buckskin 
breeches.  lie  had  a  buffalo  overcoat,  with  a  head 
hood  for  emergencies,  with  fur  leggins  and  boot 
UKtccasins.  11  is  h>gs  and  feet  fitted  his  Mexican 
stirrups.    If  my  memory  is  not  at  fault  his  entire 


REACHES  THE  CAPITAL. 


123 


dress  when  on  the  street  did  not  show  one  inch 
of  woven  fabric." 

One  can  easily  see  that  a  dress  of  such  kind  and 
upon  such  a  man  would  attract  attention  at  the 
National  Capital.  But  the  history  of  the  event 
nowhere  hints  that  the  old  pioneer  suffered  in  any 
(luarter  from  his  lack  of  fashionable  garments.  It 
was  before  the  day  of  interviewing  newspapers, 
but  the  men  in  authority  in  Washington  soon 
learned  of  his  coming  and  showed  him  every  cour- 
tesy and  kindness,  lie  would  have  been  lionized 
had  he  encouraged  it.  But  he  had  not  imperiled 
life  for  any  such  purpose.  lie  was,  after  a  four 
thousand  miles  ride,  there  upon  a  great  mission 
au'l  for  business,  and  time  was  precious. 

Almost  in  despair  he  had  prayed  that  he  might 
be  enabled  to  reach  the  Capital  of  the  Nation  and 
make  his  plea  for  his  land,  Oregon,  before  it  was 
too  late.  And  here  he  was.  Would  he  be  given  an 
audience?  Would  he  be  believed?  Would  he  suc- 
ceed? These  were  the  questions  uppermost  in  his 
mind. 


■55 


!.' : !. 


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1 

i 

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i 

CHAPTER  VII. 


WHITMAN   IN  THE  PRESENCE  OP  PRESIDENT  TYLER 

AND  SECRETARY  OF  STATE  DANIEL  WEBSTER, 

AND  THE  RETURN  TO  OREGON. 


It  has  been  an  American  boast  that  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  is  within  the  reacli  of  the 
humblest  subject.  This  was  truer  years  aj^o  than 
now,  and  possibly  with  some  reason  for  it.  Unfor- 
tunately the  historian  has  no  recorded  account  of 
the  interview  between  the  President,  his  Secretary 
of  State  and  Whitman.  Whitman  worked  for  pos- 
terity, but  did  not  write  for  it. 

For  his  lonjjj  journey  over  the  plains  in  1830  and 
the  many  entertaiuinj;-  and  excitin«>'  events  we  are 
wholly  dependent  upon  Mrs.  Whitman,  and  for 
the  narrative  of  the  perilous  ride  to  save  Orejjjon, 
we  are  dependent  upon  the  brief  notes  made  by 
Gen.  Lovejoy,  and  from  personal  talks  with  many 
friends.    Whitman  always  seeme<l  too  busy  to  use 


WHITMAN  BEFORE  THE  PRESIDENT. 


125 


pencil  or  pen,  and  yet  when  he  did  write,  as  a  few 
recorded  specimens  show,  lie  was  remarkably 
clear,  precise  and  forcible.  Kut  wlule  we  have  no 
written  statement  of  the  celebrated  interview,  Dr. 
Whitman,  in  many  private  conversations  with 
friends  in  Orej»on  said  enoujrh  to  give  a  fair  and 
clear  acconnt  of  it. 

It  will  require  no  stretch  of  imaoination  in  any 
intellijreut  reader  to  suppose,  that  a  man  who  had 
undei-j-oue  the  hardships  and  perils  he  had,  would 
be  at  a  loss  how  to  present  his  case  in  the  most 
forcible  and  best  possible  method.  1  le  was  an  edu- 
cated  man,  a  profound  thinker;  and  he  knew  every 
phase  of  the  questions  he  had  to  present,  and  no 
man  of  discernment  could  look  into  his  honest  e^es 
Jind  upon  his  manly  bearing*-,  without  acknowled-r- 
ino-  that  they  were  in  the  presence  of  the  very  best 
specimen  of  American  (liristian  manhood. 

Roth  President  Tyler  and  t^ecretary  of  State 
Daniel  Webster,  speedily  j.ranted  him  an  audi- 
ence.  Some  time  in  the  future  some  ^reat  arlist 
will  paint  a  picture  of  this  historic  event.  The  old 
pioneer,  in  his  leather  breeches  and  worn  and  torn 
fur  garments,  and  with  frozen  limbs,  just  in  froui 
a  four  thousand  mile  ride,  is  a  jucture  by  himself, 
but  standing  in  the  i)resence  of  the  Presi(hMit  and 
his  ^voat  Secretary,  to  plead  for  Oregon  and  Ihe 
old  Hag,  the  subject  for  a  i>ainter  is  second  to  none 
in  American  history. 


™ 

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M    ilit. 

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1-0         now  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVIOD  OUEGON. 

SoiiK'  writers  luivo  sjnM  lluil  Wliilmnn  "had  a 
<*lnllln;»-  roccplioii  from  Secretary  Webster."  Of 
iliis  there  is  nol  a  shadow  of  ]»roof.  1(  has  also 
been  asserted  Ihat  Whitman  assaiU'd  Ihe  Ashbnr- 
tim-Webster  Treaty.  This  much  only  is  true,  tliat 
Whitman  re<>ar(h'd  the  issues  settle*!  as  ('om]>ar;i- 
tivel.y  insijuniticant  to  those  involved  in  the  pos- 
session and  boundaries  of  ()re}»()n;  but  he  was 
])rofoun(ll.v  <»rateful  that  in  the  treaty,  ()re}4«m  hud 
in  no  way  been  sacrilieed,  as  he  had  feared. 

(len.  L(>vejoy  says:  "Dr.  Whitman  often  related 
to  me  (lurin|L»'  our  homeward  journey  the  iueid<'nts 
of  his  re('e])tion  by  the  President  and  his  Secre- 
tary. He  had  several  interviews  with  both  of 
them,  as  well  as  with  many  of  the  leadinjjj  senators 
and  members  of  (N)n«:;ress."  The  burden  of  his 
spe<M'h  in  all  these,  says  (Jen.  Lovejoy,  was  to  "im- 
mediately terminate  the  treaty  of  ISIS  and  1S2S, 
and  extend  the  laws  of  the  United  States  over 
<)re<>-on."  It  takes  a  most  criMlnlous  reader  to 
doubt  that. 

For  months  ])rior  to  Whitman's  visit  to  Wash- 
in^iton  in  «li;>lomati('  circles  it  was  well  nnilerstood 
that  there  were  ne<>()tiations  on  foot  to  trade  Amer- 
ican inter(\sts  in  ()re.U()n  for  the  fisheries  of  New- 
foundland. Dr.  Whitman  soon  heard  of  it,  and 
heard  it  i»iven  as  a  reason  why  the  boundary  lim* 
iK^weon  Orej'on  and  the  British  possessions  had 


1 

In 


■  r- 


PLEADING  FOR  OREGON. 


127 


been  left  opi^i  cand  only  tlio  little  dispute  in  Maine 
adjusted. 

Accordino-  to  all  reports  we  can  o-ather  from  the 
Doctor's  conversations,  tiiei-e  was  only  t^mo  time  in 
the  several  conferences  in  which  he  and  Secre- 
tary Webster  <;()t  warm  jind  crossed  swords.    Sec- 
retai'y    Webster    liad    received    cast i^at ion    from 
political  leaders,  and  shar])  criticism  from  his  own 
party  over  the  Ashburton  Treaty,  and  was  ready 
to  i(»seiit  ( '('i-y  remote  allusitm  to  it,  as  a  j?ive- 
nway  of  American  interests.     In  defense  of  Sec- 
rc^tary  Webster  it  has  been  asserted  that  "he  had 
no  intention  of  makiiij;-  such  an  exchange."    But 
his  well-ivnown  jn-evious  views,  held  in  common  by 
the  leadinjjj  statesmen  of  the  day,  already  referred 
to,  and  openly  ex])ressed  in  (.'onjjjress  and  upon 
the  rostrum,  that  "Oregon  was  a  barren  worthless 
country,  tit  only  for  wild  beasts  and  wild  men, 
j?ave  the  air  of  truth  to  the  reported  negotiation." 
This  he  emphasized  by  the  interruption  of  Whit- 
man in  one  of  his  glowing  descriptions  of  Oregon, 
by  saying  in  effect  that  "Oregon  was  shut  off  by 
impassabh'  mountains  and  a  great  desert,  which 
made  a  wagon  road  impossible." 

Then,  says  Whitman,  J  rei)lied:  "Mr.  Secretary, 
that  is  the  grand  mistake  that  has  been  made  by 
listening  to  the  enemies  of  American  interests  in 
Oregon.  Six  years  ago  I  was  told  there  was  no 
wagon  road  to  Oregon,  and  it  was  impossible  to 


fU 


:ijii;ii: 


iii:! 


i»f«wji;| 


'•;n-i>^ 


"H    i 


n 


I 


I 


128         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

take  a  wagon  there,  and  yet  in  despite  of  plead- 
ings and  almost  threats,  I  took  a  wagon  over  the 
road,  and  have  it  now."  This  was  the  historic 
wagon.  It  knocked  all  the  argument  out  of  the 
great  Secretary.  Facts  are  stubborn  things  to 
meet,  and  when  told  by  a  man  like  Whitman  it  is 
not  difficult  to  imagine  their  effect. 

He  assured  the  Secretary  that  the  possibilities 
of  the  territory  beyond  the  Kockies  were  bound- 
less, that  under  the  poorest  cultivation  everything 
would  grow;  that  he  had  tested  a  var  ety  of  crops 
and  the  soil  made  a  wonderful  yield.  That  not 
only  is  the  soil  fertile,  the  climate  healthful  and 
delightful,  but  there  is  every  evidence  of  the  hills 
and  mountaii<s  being  rich  in  ores;  while  the  great 
forests  are  second  to  none  in  the  world.  But  it 
was  the  battered  old  wagon  that  was  the  clinch- 
ing argument  that  could  not  be  overcome.  No 
four-wheeled  vehicle  ever  before  in  history  per- 
formed such  notable  service.  The  real  fact  was, 
th<'  Doctor  took  it  into  Oregon  on  two  wheels,  but 
he  carefully  hauled  the  other  two  wheels  inside  as 
precious  treasures.  He  seems  to  have  had  a 
prophetic  lew  of  the  value  of  the  first  incoming 
wagon  from  the  United  States.    The  events  show 

his  wisdom. 

Proceeding  with    his  argument,  Dr.  Whitman 
said:  "Mr.  Secretary,  you  had  better  give  all  New 


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WHITMAN  GAINS  HIS  POINT. 


129 


Eiij4'land  for  the  cod  aud  mackerel  fiwberies  of  New 
Foundland  than  to  barter  away  Orej^on." 

From  the  outset,  and  at  every  audience  granted, 
President  Tyler  treated  Dr.  Whitman  with  the 
greatest  deference.  He  was  a  new  character  in 
the  experience  of  both  these  polished  and 
experienced  politicians.  Never  before  had  they 
listened  to  a  man  who  so  eloquently  plead 
for  the  cause  of  his  country,  with  no  self- 
ish aim  in  sight.  He  asked  for  no  money, 
or  bonds,  or  land,  or  office,  or  anything,  ex- 
cept that  which  would  add  to  the  nation's  wealth, 
the  glory  and  honor  of  the  flag,  and  the  benefit  of 
the  hardy  pioneer  of  that  far-off  land,  that  the  na- 
tion had  for  more  than  a  third  of  the  centurv 
wholly  neglected.  It  was  a  powerful  appeal  to  the 
manly  heart  of  President  Tyler,  and  as  the  facts 
show,  was  not  lost  on  Secretary  Webster. 

The  Kev.  H.  IT.  Spalding,  Whitman's  early  as- 
sociate in  the  Oregon  work,  had  many  confer- 
ences with  Whitman  after  his  return  to  Oregon. 
Spalding  says,  speaking  of  the  conference:  "Web- 
ster's interest  la^-  too  near  to  Cape  Cod  to  see 
things  as  Whitman  did,  while  he  conceded  sincer- 
ity to  the  missionary,  but  he  was  loth  to  admit  that 
a  six  years'  residence  there  gave  Whitman  a  wider 
knowledge  of  the  country  than  that  possessed  by 
Governor  Simpson,  who  had  explored  every  part 
of  it  and  represented  it  as  a  sandy  desert,  cut  off 


r 

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v^m 

130        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


from  the  United  Stntes  by  impnssnble  nionntains, 
and  fit  only  for  wild  animals  and  sava^-e  men." 

With  the  lifiht  we  now  have  ni)ou  Ihe  subject 
the  greater  wonder  is  that  a  brainy  man  like  Web- 
ster conld  be  so  over-reaehed  by  an  interested 
party  sneh  as  Governor  Sim])son  was;  well  kuow- 
in,i?  as  he  did,  that  he  was  the  chief  of  the  greatest 
monopoly  existing  upon  either  continent— the 
Hudson  Bay  Company.  All  Dr.  Whitman  de- 
manded was  that  if  it  were  true,  as  asserted  bv  Mr. 
Webster  himself,  in  his  instructions  to  Edward 
Everett  in  1840,  then  Minister  to  England,  that 
"The  owncM'ship  of  Oregon  is  very  likely  to  follow 
the  greater  settlement  and  larger  amount  of  popu- 
lation;" then  "All  I  ask  is  that  you  won't  barter 
away  Oregon,  or  allow  English  interference  until 
I  can  lead  a  band  of  stalwart  American  settlers 
across  the  i)lains:  for  this  I  will  try  to  do." 

President  Tyler  prom])11y  and  positively  stated: 
"Dr.  Whitman,  your  long  ride  and  frozen  limbs 
speak  for  your  courage  and  patriotism;  your  mis- 
sionary credentials  are  good  vouchers  for  your 
character."  And  he  ]>romptly  granted  his  re<iuest. 
Such  promise  was  all  that  Whitman  required.  He 
firmly  believed,  as  all  the  ])ionc<'rs  of  Oregon  at 
that  time  believ.'d,  that  the  treaty  of  ISIS,  Avhile 
not  saying  in  direct  terms  that  the  mitioualitv  set- 
tling  the  country  should  hold  it,  yet  that  that  was 
the  real  meaning.    Both  couulries  claimed  the  ter- 


SECRETARY  OF  WAR  PROMISES  AID.  131 


ritorv,  and   Enoland  win,   tl 


»o  smallest  rightful 


claim  had,  throuo-h  tlu^  Hudson  Bay  (\)nipany, 
been  the  supreme  autocratic  ruler  for  a  full  third 
of  a  century. 

More  than  half  a  dozen  fur  companies,  attracted 
to  Oreo-on  by  the  wealth  tlowinjv  into  the  coffers 
of  the  En<>lish  company,  had  attempted 
have  before  shown,  to  oi)en  up  bi 


they  claimed  was  Ameri 


as  we 


isiiiess  on  what 


instance,  they  were  st 
by  the  EnHish 


com 


orde?' 


can  soil;    but,  in  every 
Eirved  out  or  bouj^ht  out 
pany.    The  Indians  obeyed  \h 


tnd  even  the  Ameriian  missionaries  set- 


tled in  just  the  localities  tl 


the  Enij(lisli  numopoly.    In  anotl 


ley  were  ordered  to  bv 


hav 


ler  connection  we 


Ainer 


o  more  fully  explained  this  treaty  of  1818,  but, 
Tice  it  to  say,  these  conditions  led  Whitman  t(! 
ieve  that  the  only  hope  of  savin<>'  Or 


ofton  was  in 


■lean  immioration.     it  was  for  this  that  he 


plead  with  President  Tyler  and  St 
ster  and  the  members  of  ( 


From  (lie  President  he 
'SI.  Porter,  Secretary  of  AV 
ccived  with  the  -realest  kind 
heard   the  whole  st( 


cretary  Web- 
i>n'»ress  he  met. 
went  to  the  Hon.  James 


ir,  and  by  him  was  re- 


iiess. 


and  1 


lo  eaii'erlv 


n 


ory.     He  itnuiiised  Dr.  Whit- 

lan  all  the  aid  in  his  power  in  his  scheme  of  im- 

iiii«rati(m.     lie  promised  that  (\iptain  Fremont, 

with  a  comiKiny  of  troops,  should 


the 


caravan  which  Whitniu 


act  as  esroii  to 
11  was  positive  lie  eoiihl 


organize  upiui  the  frontier.    The  Secretary  of  W 


ar 


\n 


\in 


!n  <\ 


•""■'I  -J 


if; 

i      ;      i 


132 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


also  inquired  in  Avliat  way  he  and  the  Government 
oonhl  aid  the  pioneers  in  the  new  conntrv,  and 
a.sked  Dr.  Wliitniau,  at  liis  h'isure,  to  Avrite  out  his 
views,  and  forward  them  to  him.  Dr.  Whitman 
did  this,  and  the  State  Historical  Society  of  Ore- 
j?on  did  excelhMit  service,  recimtly,  in  ])nblishin<»" 
AVhilman's  projjosed  "Oregon  Oruanization," 
found  amonji;  the  otlficial  papcn-s  of  tlie  War  De- 
partment, a  copy  of  which  will  be  found  in  the  ap- 
pendix of  this  volume. 

In  a  Senate  document,  December  31st,  viz.,  the 
41st  ('ong-.,  February  9th,  1871,  we  read:  "Ther*^ 
is  no  doubt  but  that  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Whitman, 
in  1843,  was  opportun<\  The  President  was  sat- 
isfied that  the  territory  was  worth  the  effort  to 
win  it.  The  delay  incident  to  a  transfer  of  negotia- 
tions to  London  was  fortunate,  for  there  is  rea- 
scm  to  b(dieve  that  if  former  ueji'otiations  had 
bi'en  renewed  in  Washin<;(on,  and  that,  for 
Ihe  sake  of  a  settlement  of  the  protracted  con- 
h'oversy  and  the  only  remaininj::^  unadjudicated 
cause  of  dilTerence  between  the  two  Governments, 
t  Ik'  olV«"r  had  been  renewed  of  the  4!)th  parallel  to 
tlic  Columbia  niid  thence  down  the  river  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  it  Mould  have  been  acoe])ted.  The 
visit  of  Whitman  committed  the  President  a;n'ainst 
any  such  action."  This  is  a  clear  statement,  sum- 
marizinfj:  the  j^reat  historic  event,  and  ffsrever  si- 
lencinjjj  effet'cuallj  the  slanderous  tongues  that 


! 


RECEPTION  BY  THE  AMERICAN  BOARD.  133 

have,  ill  iiiodoni  times,  jittciiipted  to  deprive  the 
old  Hero  of  his  oroat  and  deserviiij^'  tribute. 

We  will  do  Secretary  Webster  the  justice  to 
say  here,  that  in  his  later  years,  he  justly  acknowl- 
€Hlt»ed  the  obli<j;ation.s  of  the  nation  to  Dr.  AVhit- 
luan.  In  the  New  York  Indt^pendent,  for  January, 
1S70,  it  is  stated:  "A  personal  friend  of  Mr.  Web- 
ster, a  ]o^ii\  o-entlenian,  and  with  whom  he  con- 
versed on  the  subject  several  times,  remarked  to 
the  writer  of  this  article:  'It  is  safe  to  assert  that 
our  country  owes  it  to  Dr.  Whitman  and  his  as- 
sociate missionaries  that  all  the  territory  west  of 
the  Kocky  Mountains  and  south  as  far  as  the  Co- 
lumbia Hiver,  is  not  now  owned  by  England  and 
held  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Company.'  " 

Having  transacted  his  business  and  succeeded 
even  beyond  his  expectations,  Whitman  hurried 
to  lioston  to  report  to  the  headjpiarters  of  the 
American  Board.  I  lis  enemies  have  often  made 
s]K)rt  over  their  version  of  his  "coed  reception  by 
tile  Ameiican  Board."  If  tlu^'e  was  a  severe  rep- 
rimand, as  reporte«l,  both  the  otticers  of  the  Board 
ami  Dr.  Whitman  failed  to  make  record  of  it.  But 
enough  of  the  facts  leaked  out  in  the  years  after 
to  show  that  it  was  not  altogether  a  harmonious 
niee(iug.    It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at. 

The  American  Board  was  a  religious  organi- 
zation woi'king  umler  lixed  nih's,  and  expected 
every  member  in  i^M'vy  iield  to  obev  those  rules. 


)'\    i 


'«W  '       I 


l'*i  I 


i        i 

'■    t 
i   I 


134 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


But  hoiv  was  a  man,  whose  salary  had  been  paid 
by  the  Board  for  special  work,  a^^'ay  from  his  field 
of  labor  without  the  consent  from  headquarters. 
It  is  not  at  all  unlikely  that  he  was  severely  repri- 
manded. The  officers  of  the  American  Board  had 
no  reason  to  know,  as  Christian  people  can  see 
now,  that  Whitman  was  an  inspired  man,  and  a 
man  about  liis  Father's  business.  It  is  even  re- 
X)orted,  but  not  vouched  for,  that  they  ordered 
him  to  promptly  repair  to  his  post  of  duty,  and 
dismissed  him  with  his  pockets  so  empty,  that, 
when  starting  upon  his  ever-memorable  return 
journey  across  the  plains,  "He  had  but  money 
enough  to  buy  only  a  single  ham  for  his  supplies." 
One  of  his  old  associates  who  had  frequent  con- 
ferences with  Whitman — Dr.  Gray — says:  "In- 
stead of  being  treat(Hl  by  the  American  Board  as 
his  labors  justly  deserved,  he  met  the  cold,  calcu- 
lating rebuke  for  unreasonable  expenses,  and  for 
dangers  incurred  without  orders  or  instructicms 
or  permission  from  headquarters.  Thus,  for  eco- 
nomical, junulential  reasons,  the  Board  received 
liim  coldly,  and  rebuked  him  for  his  presence  be- 
fore them,  causing  a  chill  in  his  warm  and  gener- 
ous heart,  and  a  sense  of  unmerited  rebuke  from 
those  who  .shouM  have  been  most  willing  to  lis- 
ten to  all  his  statements,  and  been  most  cordial 
and  re.ady  to  sustain  him  in  his  herculean  labors." 
We  leave  intelligent  readers  to  answer  for  them- 


RECEPTION  BY  THE  AMERICAN  BOARD. 


135 


selves,  whether  this  attitude  of  this  great  and  in- 
fluential and  excellent  organization  has  not  been, 
in  a  measure,  responsible  for  the  neglect  of  this 
Hero,  who  served  it  and  the  Christian  world  with 
all  faithfulness  and  lionesty,  until  he  ana  his  noble 
wife  dropped  into  their  martyr  graves?  If  tliey  say 
yea,  we  raise  the  question  whetlier  the  time  has 
not  been  reached  to  make  amends? 

Dr.  Barrows  says,  in  his  "Oregon  and  the  Strug- 
gle for  Possession,"  "It  should  be  said  in  ap<d()gy 
for  both  parties  at  this  late  day  that,  at  that  time, 
the  Oregon  Mission  and  its  managing  board  wt're 
widely  asunder  geographically,  and  as  widely  sei)- 
arated  in  knowledge  of  the  condition  of  affairs." 
Dr.  Whitman  seems  to  have  assumed  that  his 
seven  years'  residence  on  the  Northwest  Coast 
would  gain  him  a  trustful  hearing.  But  his  knowl- 
edge gave  him  the  disadvantage  of  a  position  and 
phins  too  advanced — not  an  uncommon  mishap  to 
eminent  leaders.  As  said  by  Coleridge  of  Milton, 
"lie  strode  so  far  before  his  conteuipcu'aries  as  to 
<l\varf  himself  by  the  distance." 

lie  adds  that: 

"Yenrs  after  onlv,  it  was  discovered  bv  one  of 
the  ollicers  of  the  American  Board,"  that  "It  wjis 
not  siui]dy  an  American  (pu'stion  then  setlle<l.  but 
at  the  same  time  a  I'rolestaut  (lucsliou."  He  also 
refers  to  a  recent  work,  "The  El\  N'olu"  ","  in 
which  is  discussed  the  <iU(^stion,  "Instances  wlnnv- 


'  1 


USii 


'H 


! 

'                  '              •^:\ 

: 

PIP'  <  * 

ill 

i 

i:|«<iri» 


'kr'l* 


; 


ji  1 


13G    HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREaON. 

the  diroct  inflnonoe  of  luissionarieH  has  controlled 
tind  hopefully  shaped  the  destinies  of  coninnini- 
ties  and  states,"  and  illnstrates  by  saying,  "Per- 
hai)s  no  event  in  the  history  of  missions  will  bet- 
ter illustrate  (his  than  the  wav  in  Avhich  Oreiron 
and  onr  whole  Northwest  Pacific  Coast  was  saved 
to  the  United  States." 

TluH  covered  directly  the  Whitman  idea.  It 
was,  as  he  before  stated,  a  union  of  banners—the 
banne-  of  the  "ross,  and  the  banner  of  the  coun- 
try he  loved.  It  took  the  spirit  and  love  of  both  to 
sustain  a  man  and  to  enable  him  to  underoo  the 
hardships  and  dano-ers  and  discouraoemeuts  that 
he  met,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end. 

From  Boston,  with  an  aching  heart,  and  yet 
doubtless  serene  over  an  accomplished  duty,  which 
he  had  faith  to  believe  time  Mould  reveal  in  its 
real  light,  Dr.  Whitnum  ])assed  '^n  to  make  a  fly- 
ing visit  to  his  own  and  his  Avife'f  relations.  From 
letters  of  Mrs.  AYhitnum,  it  is  easy  to  see  that  her 
proi>hecy  was  true;  "He  would  be  too  full  of  his 
great  work  on  hand,  to  tell  much  of  the  home  in 
Oregon."  His  visit  was  hurried  over  and  seemed 
more  the  necessity  of  a  great  duty  than  a  pleasure, 

Itnt  the  Doctor's  mind  was  westward.  He  had 
learned  from  (Jen.  Lovejoy  that  already  there  Avas 
gathering  nixtn  tlie  frontier  a  goodly  number  of 
immigrants  and  the  iirospect  was  excellent  for  a 
large  caravan.  Tii  llio  absence  of  Dr.  Wliituian, 
(leu,  Lovejoy  had  neglected  no  opportunity  to  pnb- 


la  m 


i  f '^  i 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OP  1843. 


137 


lish  far  and  wide  that  Dr.  Wliitman  and  himst'lf 
would,  early  in  the  Sprin.i>,  pilot  across  the  plains 
to  Oregon,  a  body  of  imniiorants.  A  rendezvous 
was  appointed,  not  far  from  where  Kansas  City 
now  stan<ls,  at  the  little  town  of  Weston,  liut 
they  were  iti  various  camps  at  Fort  Leavenworth 
and  other  i)()ints,  waiting  both  for  their  gnid<'  and 
for  the  growing  spring  grass— a  necessity  for  the 
emigrant. 

Certain  modern  historians  have  undertaken  to 
rob  Whitman  of  his  great  services  in  184;5,  by 
gathei-ing  allidavits  of  people  who  emigrated  to 
Oregon  in  that  year,  declaring,  "We  never  saw 
Marcus  Wliitman,"  and  ''We  were  not  persuaded 
to  immigrate  to  Oregon  by  him,"  etc.  Doubtless 
there  were  such  upon  the  wide  plains,  scattered  as 
they  may  have  been,  hundi'eds  of  miles  apart.  liut 
it  is  just  as  certain  that  the  large  immigration  to 
Oregon  that  year  was  incited  by  the  movements  of 
^Vhitman  and  Lovejoy,  as  any  fact  could  be. 
There  is  no  other  method  of  ex]»l;n'ning  it.  That 
he  directly  influenced  every  immigrant  of  that 
year,  no  one  has  chiinuMl. 

True,  old  Elijah  While  had  paved  the  way,  the 
year  before,  by  leading  in  the  lirst  large  band  of 
agriculturist  settlers;  but  men  of  families,  under- 
taking a  t^^(^  thousand  mile  journey,  with  their 
families  and  their  stock,  were  certainly  desirous 
of  an  experienc(Ml  guide.    Tiiey  may,  as  some  of 


Mi 


!|Si 


fM 


hi  i 


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m 

ram 

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ikii^H 

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m 

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1 

138 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


them  say,  never  have  met  Whitman.  lie  was  not 
one  of  the  free  and  easy  kind  that  made  liimself 
popular  with  the  masses. 

Then,  besides  all  that,  tifty  j'ears  aj^o  plains  life 
was  an  odd  life.  I  have  journeyed  with  men  for 
weeks,  and  even  after  months  of  a('<piaintanee 
have  not  known  their  names,  except  that  of  Buck- 
eye, Sucker,  Missouri,  Cass  County  Bill,  Bob,  etc. 
Little  bands  would  travel  by  themselves  for  days 
and  weeks  and  then,  under  the  sense  4>f  danger 
that  would  be  passed  alonjj;-  the  Hue,  and  for  de- 
fense against  de[)redations  of  some  dauj2;erous 
tribe  of  Indians,  they  would  j^ather  into  larocr 
bands  soon  again  to  fall  apart.  Some  of  these 
would  often  follow  many  days  behind  the  head 
of  the  column,  but  always  have  the  benefit  of  its 
guidance. 

That  year  grass  was  late,  and  they  did  not  get 
fully  under  way  until  the  tirst  week  in  June.  Wiiit- 
man  remained  behind  and  did  not  overtake  the 
advance  of  the  column  until  it  reached  the  Platte 
River.  ITe  knew  the  way,  he  liad  three  times  been 
over  it.  He  was  ahead  arranging  for  camping 
places  for  those  in  his  immediate  company,  or  in 
the  rear  looking  after  the  sick  and  discourage<l. 
If  some  failed  to  know  him  by  name,  there  were 
many  who  did,  and  all  shared  in  all  the  knowledge 
of  the  country  and  road  which  lu»,  better  than  any 
other,  knew. 

In  answer  to  historical  critics  of  modern  times 


TROUBLE  AGAIN  AT  FORT  HALL. 


139 


we  quote  Dr.  n.  II.  Spaldiii"',  who  says,  in  speak- 
ing of  the  immigration  of  1843: 

"And  through  that  whole  summer  Dr.  Whitman 
was  everywhere  present;  the  ministering  angel 
to  the  sick,  helping  the  weary,  encouraging  the 
wavering,  cheering  the  tired  mothers,  setting 
broken  bones  and  mending  wagons.  lie  was  in 
the  front,  in  the  center  and  in  the  rear.  I  le  was  in 
the  river  hunting  out  fords  through  the  quick- 
sand; in  the  desert  places  looking  for  water  and 
grass;  among  the  mountains  hunting  for  passes, 
never  before  trodden  by  white  men;  at  noontide 
and  at  midnight  he  was  on  the  alert  at^  if  the  whole 
line  was  his  own  family,  and  a?  if  all  the  flocks 
and  herds  were  his  own.  For  all  this  he  neither 
asked  nor  expected  a  dollar  from  any  source,  and 
especially  did  he  feel  repaid  at  the  end,  when, 
standing  at  his  mission  home,  hundreds  of  his  fel- 
low pilgrims  took  him  by  the  hand  and  thank(Ml 
him  with  tears  in  their  eyes  for  all  that  he  had 
done." 

The  head  of  the  column  arrived  at  Fort  Hall 
and  there  waited  for  the  stragglers  to  come  up. 
Dr.  Whitman  knew  that  here  he  would  meet  Ca])- 
tain  Johnnv  Grant,  and  the  old  storv,  "You  can't 
take  a  wagon  into  Oregon,"  would  be  dinned  into 
the  ears  of  the  head  of  every  family.  lie  had 
heard  it  over  and  over  again  six  vears  before.  Fort 
Hall  was  thirteen  hundred  and  twenty-three  miles 


■^ 

1 

V 

i 

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I 

,(.'"■!*:     •]    J 


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H  ■  if'   i 
111     •      1 


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■ 

140        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

from  the  Missouri  River  at  Kansas  City.  Here 
the  Doctor  expected  trouble  aud  found  it.  Johnny 
Grant  was  at  Fort  Hall  to  make  trouble  and  dis- 
couraj^e  immijijration.  He  was  working  under  the 
pay  of  the  Fur  Company  and  earned  his  money. 
The  Fur  Company  did  not  desire  farmers  in  settle- 
ments in  Oregon. 

Captain  Grant  at  once  began  to  tell  them  the 
terrors  of  the  mountain  journey  aud  the  impossi- 
bility of  hauling  their  wagons  further.  Then  he 
showed  them,  to  prove  it,  a  corral  full  of  fine 
wagon,s,  with  agricultural  tools,  and  thousands 
of  things  greatly  needed  in  Oregon,  that  immi- 
grants had  been  forced  to  leave  when  tliev  \oolc  to 
their  pack-saddles.  The  men  were  ready,  as  had 
been  others  before,  to  give  up  and  sacrifice  the 
comforts  of  their  families  and  rob  themselves  at 
the  command  of  the  oily  advocate. 

But  here  comes  Whitman.  Johnny  Grant 
knows  he  now  has  his  master.  Dr.  Whitman  says: 
"Men,  I  have  gained  you  thus  far  in  safety.  Be- 
lieve nothing  you  hear  aboiit  not  being  able  to  get 
your  wagons  through;  every  one  of  you  stick  to 
your  wagons  and  your  goods.  They  Avill  be  invalu- 
able to  you  when  you  reach  the  end  of  your  jour- 
ney. I  took  a  wagon  through  to  Oregon  six  years 
ago."  (Again  we  see  the  historic  wagon.)  The 
men  believed  him.  Tliey  refused  to  obey  Captain 
Grant's  touching  appeal  and  almost  a  command 


li  g 


A  HARD  ROAD. 


141 


to  leave  their  wagons  behind.  Never  did  an  order, 
than  the  one  Whitman  made,  add  more  to  the  com- 
fort and  actual  value  of  a  band  of  travelers. 

One  of  a  former  company  tells  of  a  packing  ex- 
perience, after  submitting  to  Captain  Grant's 
orders.  lie  says:  "There  were  lively  times  around 
old  Fort  ITall  when  the  patient  old  oxen  and  mules 
were  taken  from  the  wagons  to  be  left  behind  and 
the  loads  of  bedding,  pots  and  pans  were  tied  on 
to  their  backs.  They  were  unused  to  such  meth- 
ods. There  would  first  be  a  shying,  then  a  fright 
and  a  stampede,  and  bellowing  oxen  and  braying 
mules  and  the  air  would  be  full  of  tiying  kettles 
and  camp  fixtures,  while  women  and  children  cry- 
ing and  the  men  swearing,  made  up  a  picture  to 
live  in  the  memory." 

No  one  better  than  Whitman  knew  the  toil  and 
danger  attending  the  last  six  liundred  miles  of  the 
journey  to  Oregon.  Col.  George  B.  Curry,  in  an  ad- 
dress before  the  Pioneer  Society  of  Oregon  in  1S87, 
gives  a  graphic  sketch,  wonderfully  realistic,  of 
the  immigrant  train  in  1853.  lie  savs:  "From  the 
South  Pass  the  nature  of  our  journeying  changed, 
and  assumed  the  character  of  a  retreat,  a  disas- 
trous, ruinous  retreat.  Oxen  and  horses  began 
to  perish  in  large  numbers;  often  falling  dead 
in  their  yokes  in  the  road.  The  heat-dried  wagon, 
striking  on  the  rocks  or  banks  would  fall  to 
pieces.    As  the  beasts  of  burden  grew  weaker,  and 


'II 


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142         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

the  waj»()n  more  rlckotj,  teams  began  to  bo 
doubled  and  wagons  abandoned.  The  approach- 
in};-  storms  of  antnmn,  which,  on  the  \ug;h  moun- 
tains at  the  last  end  of  our  journey,  meant  impas- 
sable snow,  admitted  of  no  delay.  Whatever  of 
strength  remained  of  the  jaded  cattle  must  be 
forced  out.  Every  thinjj^  of  weight  not  absolutely 
necessary  must  be  abandoncMl. 

"There  was  no  time  to  pause  and  recruit  the 
hunjvry  stock,  nor  dare  we  allow  lliem  much  free- 
dom to  hunt  the  withered  lHM*baj»(s  for  a  maraud- 
inj;*  enemy  hung  upon  the  rear,  hovering  on  either 
flank,  and  skulked  in  ambusca<le  in  the  front,  the 
horizon  was  a  pancu'ama  of  mountains,  the  grand- 
est and  most  desolate  on  the  continent.  The  road 
was  strewn  with  dead  cattle,  abandoned  wagons, 
discarded  cooking  utensils,  ox-yokes,  harness, 
chairs,  mess  chests,  log  chains,  books,  heirlooms, 
and  family  keepsakes.  The  inexorable  surround- 
ings of  the  struggling  mass  permitted  no  hesita- 
tion or  sentiment. 

"The  failing  strength  of  the  team  was  a  demand 
that  must  be  complied  with.  Clothing  not  abso- 
lutely required  at  present  was  left  on  the  bare 
rocks  of  the  rugged  canyons.  Wagons  were 
coui>led  shorter  that  a  few  extra  pounds  might  be 
saved  fi-om  the  wagon  beds.  One  set  of  wheels 
was  left  and  a  cart  constructed.    Men,  women  and 


SUFFERINGS  OF  VHE  SETTLERS. 


143 


children    walked    beside    the    eufeebled    teams, 
resid.v  to  j»ive  au  assistiiio-  push  up  a  steep  pitch. 

"The  liei'ce  suiniruH-'s  heat  beat  upon  this  slow 
west  roninj>'  column.  The  herbaiGje  was  dry  and 
crisp,  the  rivulets  had  become  but  lines  in  the 
burninjif  sand;  the  sun  j2:lared  fnmi  a  sky  of  brass; 
the  stony  mountain  sides  glared  with  tlie  narnered 
heat  of  a  cloudless  Summer.  The  dusky  brambles 
of  the  scraggy  sage  brush  seemed  to  catch  the 
fiery  rays  of  heat  and  shiver  them  into  choking 
dust,  that  rose  like  a  tormenting  plague  and  hung 
like  a  demon  of  destruction  over  the  panting  oxen 
and  thirsty  people. 

"Thus  day  after  day,  for  weeks  and  months,  the 
slow  but  urgent  retreat  continued,  each  day  de- 
manding fresh  sacrifices.  Au  ox  or  a  horse  would 
fall,  brave  men  would  lift  the  useless  yoke  from  his 
limp  and  lifeless  neck  in  silence.  If  there  was 
another  to  take  his  place  he  was  brought  from 
the  loose  band,  yoked  up  and  the  journey  resumed. 
^A'llen  the  stock  of  oxen  became  exhausted,  cows 
were  brought  under  the  yoke,  other  wagons  left, 
and  the  lessening  store  once  more  inspected;  if 
possible,  another  pound  would  be  dispensed  with. 

"Deeper  and  deeper  into  the  flinty  mountains 
the  forlorn  nmss  drives  its  weary  way.  Each 
morning  the  weakened  team  has  to  commence  a 
struggle  with  yet  greater  difticulties.  It  is  plain 
the  journey  will  not  be  completed  within  the  an- 


*  I 


Ml 


■      ! 

.«  J  ■ 

*•  ■  i 


144         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGOM. 

tieipated  time,  aud  the  dread  of  hunger  joins  the 
ranks  of  the  tormentors.    The  stench  of  carrion 
fills  the  air  in  many  places;   a  watering-  phice  is 
reached  to  find  the  putrid  carcass  of  a  dead  animal 
in  the  spring.    Th(»  Indians  hover  in  the  rear,  im- 
patiently waiting  for  the  train  to  move  on  that 
th(^   abandoned    trinkets    may    be   gathered    up. 
Whether  these  are  gathering  strength  for  a  gen- 
eral attack  we  cannot  tell.    There  is  but  one  thing 
to  do— press  on.    The  retreat  cannot  hasten  into 
rout,  for  the  distance  to  safety  is  too  great.  Slower 
and  slower  is  daily  ])rogress. 

"I  do  not  pretiMid  to  be  versed  in  all  the  horrors 
that  have  mad(»  men  groan  on  earth,  but  I  have  fol- 
lowed the  "Flight  of  Tartar  Tribes,"  under  iho 
focal  light  of  DeQuincy's  genius,  the  retreat  of 
the  ten  thousand  under  Xenoi)hon,  but  as  far  as  I 
am  able  to  judge,  in  heroism,  cuduraiuMs  l>aticn<-e, 
and  suffering,  the  annual  retreat  of  immigrants 
fnmi  the  HIack  Hills  to  the  Dalles  surpasses 
either.  The  theater  of  their  sufferings  and  sue- 
cess,,  for  scenic  grandeur,  has  n(.  »u]K'rior. 

"The  patient  endurance  of  these  nu'n  and  wo- 
men for  sublime  pathos  nmy  challcngv  (Ik^  w,»ild. 
Men  were  Mupoverished  au«1  w.Mnen  reduced  \i, 
beggary  and  absolute  want,  and  no  weakling's 
murmur  of  complnini  escaix'd  (hcli-  li])s.  It^'s 
true,  when  won^- !i  saw  llioir  piilient  oxen  or  faith- 
ful  horses  fall  by  the  roadsid(>  and  <li(.,  thev  wept 


1 

4 

1 

1 

11 


;'  I 


I 


REV.  II.  II.  SHALIJING. 


Ml 


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CROSSING  THE  SNAKE  RIVER. 


145 


piteously,  and  men  stood  in  all  the  'silent  manli- 
ness of  oTief  in  the  camp  of  their  desolation,  for 
the  iniminrants  were  men  and  women  with  hearts 
to  feel  and  tears  to  tlow." 

This,  it  will  be  observed,  was  a  train  upon  the 
road  ten  years  later  than  Dr.  Whitman's  memora- 
ble journey.  He  was  a  wise  ^^iiidcs  5^i»<l  his  train 
met  with  fewer  disasters.  The  Hon.  S.  A.  Clarke 
in  his  address  tells  how  Whitman  moved  his  train 
across  Snake  IJiver. 

He  says:  "When  the  immij> rants  reached  the 
Snake,  Dr.  Whitman  proceeded  to  fasten  waj^ons 
to.u'ether  in  one  Ion*;-  strinj--,  the  stron<i-est  in  the 
lead.  As  soon  as  the  teams  were  in  iK)si(ion,  Dr. 
Whitman  tied  a  rope  around  his  waist  and  start- 
ing:: his  horse  into  the  current  swam  over.  He 
called  to  others  to  follow  him,  and  Avhen  they  had 
force  enou<;h  to  i>ull  at  the  rope  tiie  lead  team  was 
st.'irted  in  and  all  Avere  drawn  over  in  safety.  As 
soon  as  the  leadinj^-  t(^ams  were  able  to  ji^et  foot- 
hold on  the  bottom  all  was  safe;  as  they,  aided 
by  tile  strou}^'  arms  of  the  men  pullin<>'  at  the  rope, 
pulh'd  tlie  weaker  ones  alon<;'." 

The  Snake  Iviv<'r  at  the  ford  is  divided  into  three 
rivers  by  ishinds,  the  last  stream  on  the  ()re<>'on 
side  is  a  deep  and  rapid  current,  and  fully  half  a 
mile  wi<le.  To  ^ci  so  many  waj^ons,  pdlled  by 
jaded  teams,  and  all  the  thonsand  men,  women 
and  childi'en,  and  the  h»ose  stock  across  in  safety, 
showed  wise  generalship. 


■  01 


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It  '« 


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If- 1 


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146         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

We  here  copy  "A  Day  with  the  Cow  Column  in 
1843,"  by  the  Hon.  Jesse  Applegate,  a  late  hon- 
ored citizen  of  Oregon,  who  was  one  of  Dr.  Whit- 
man's company  in  1843.  It  is  a  clear,  graphic 
description  of  a  sample  day's  journey  on  the 
famous  trip,  and  v/as  an  address  published  in  the 
transactions  of  the  Pioneer  Oregon  Association 
in  1870. 

The  migration  of  a  large  body  of  men,  women 
and  children  across  the  Ccmtinent  to  Oregon  was, 
in  the  year  1843,  strictly  an  experiment,  not  only 
in  respect  to  the  numbers,  but  to  the  outfit  of  the 
migrating  party. 

Before  that  date  two  or  three  missionaries  had 
performed  the  journey  on  horseback,  driving  a  few 
cows  with  them.  Three  or  four  .yagons  drawn  by 
oxen  had  reached  Fort  Hall  on  Snake  River,  but 
it  was  the  honest  opinion  of  m()st  of  those  who 
had  traveled  the  route  down  Snake  Kiver  that  no 
large  number  t  f  cattle  coiihl  be  subsisted  on  its 
scanty  pasturage,  «>r  wagons  taken  over  a  route 
so  rngge<l  and  mountainous. 

The  emigrants  were  also  assured  that  the  Sioux 
would  be  much  o]»])osed  to  the  passage  of  so  large 
a  body  through  their  counlry,  and  would  probably 
resist  it  on  account  of  the  emigrants  destroying 
and  frightening  away  (he  buflahu's,  which  were 
then    diminishing    in    niniibers.     The    migrating 


THE  COLUMN  DIVIDED. 


147 


body  numbered  over  one  thousand  souls,  with 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty  wagons,  drawn  by 
ox  teams,  averaging  about  six  yokes  to  the  team, 
and  several  thousand  loose  horses  and  cattle. 

The  emigrants  first  organized  and  attempted  to 
travel  in  one  body,  but  it  was  soon  found  that  no 
progress  could  be  made  with  a  body  so  cumbrous, 
and  as  yet,  so  averse  to  all  discipline.  And  at  tlie 
crossing  of  the  "Big  Blue,"  it  divided  into  two  col- 
umns, which  traveled  in  supporting  distance  of 
eav.'h  other  as  far  as  Independence  Hock,  on  the 
Sweetwater. 

From  this  point,  all  danger  from  Indians  being 
over,  the  emigrants  separated  into  small  parties 
better  suited  to  the  narrow  mountain  paths  and 
small  pastures  in  their  front. 

Before  the  division  on  the  Blue  Kiver  there  was 
some  just  cause  for  discontent  in  respect  to  loose 
cattle.  Some  of  the  emigiants  had  only  their 
teams,  while  others  had  large  herds  in  addition, 
Avhich  must  sliare  the  pastures  and  be  driven  by 
^he  whole  body. 

This  disconteut  had  its  effect  in  the  division  on 
the  IMne,  those  not  encumbered  with  or  having 
l»ut  few  loose  cattle  attached  themselves  to  the 
light  column,  those  having  more  than  four  or  five 
cows  juul  oi  necessity  to  j(»iu  Hiv  heavy  or  cow 
column.  Hence,  tlic  cow  column,  being  much 
larger  than  the  other  and  encumbered  with  its 


t 

r. 

tt 
1 

! 

( 

1 

11 

m 


i  [' 


l( 


'   '"'y.l 


•i: 


Ml'   h 


*!i;fii; 


1^'^'  ',;,H 

i    m    •' 

i^^l 

l^^^^l 

i    I- 

^^^^^1 

1  \  \ 

1 

-^ -  '^ 

1 

148        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON, 

larji^e  herds,  had  to  use  greater  exertion  and  ob- 
serve a  more  rigid  discipline  to  keep  pace  with 
the  more  agile  consort. 

It  is  with  the  cow  or  more  clnmsy  column  that 
I  pr()])ose  to  journey  with  the  reader  for  a  single 
day; 

It  is  four  o'clock  a.  m.,  the  sentinels  on  duty 
have  discharged  their  rifles,  the  signal  tliat  the 
hours  of  sleep  are  over;  and  every  wagon  or  tent 
is  pouriuj:  *orth  its  night  tenants,  and  slow  kind- 
ling smokes  begin  to  rise  and  float  away  on  the 
morning  air.  Sixty  men  start  from  the  corral, 
spreading  as  they  make  through  the  vast  herd  of 
cattle  and  horses  that  form  a  semi-circle  around 
the  encampment,  the  most  distant,  perhaps,  two 
miles  away. 

The  herders  pass  to  the  extreme  verge  and 
carefully  examine  for  trails  beyond,  to  see  that 
none  of  the  animals  have  been  stolen  or  strayed 
during  tlie  night.  This  morning  no  trails  lead 
beyond  the  outside  animals  in  sight,  and  by  five 
o'clock  the  herders  begin  to  contract  the  great 
moving  circle,  and  the  well-trained  animals  nrove 
slowly  toward  camp,  clipping  here  and  there  a 
thistle  or  tempting  bunch  of  grass  on  the  way. 

In  about  an  hour  5,000  animals  are  close  up  to 
the  encampment,  and  tlie  teamsters  are  busy 
selecting  their  teams,  and  driving  them  iisside  the 
"corral"   to   be  yoked.    The   corral    u;   a   circle 


THE  MORNING  START. 


149 


one  hundred  yards  deep,  formed  with  waj^ons  con- 
nected strongly  with  each  other,  tlie  way;on  in  the 
rear  being  connected  with  the  wagon  in  front  by 
ittj  tongue  and  ox  chains.  It  is  a  strong  barrier 
that  the  most  vicious  ox  cannot  break,  and  in  case 
of  an  attack  by  the  Si(mx,  would  be  no  con- 
temptible entrenchment. 

From  six  to  seven  o'clock  is  a  busy  time;  break- 
fast to  be  eaten,  the  tents  stru'-k,  the  wagons 
loaded,  and  the  teams  yoked  and  brought  up  in 
readiness  to  be  attached  to  their  respective 
wagons.  All  know,  when  at  seven  o'clock  the 
signal  to  march  sounds,  that  those  not  ready  to 
take  their  proper  places  in  the  line  of  march  must 
fall  into  the  dustv  rear  for  the  dav. 

There  are  sixty  wagons.  They  have  been 
divided  into  sixteen  divisions,  or  platoons  of  four 
wagons  each,  and  each  platoon  is  entitled  to  lead 
in  its  turn.  The  leading  platoon  of  to-day  will  be 
the  rear  one  to-morrow,  and  will  bring  up  the  rear, 
unless  some  teamster,  through  indolence  or  negli- 
gence, has  lost  his  place  in  the  line,  and  is  C(m- 
demned  to  that  uncomfortable  ])ost.  It  is  within 
ten  minutes  of  seven;  the  ccn-ral,  but  now  a  strong 
barricade,  is  everywhere  broken,  the  teams  bcMug 
attached  to  the  wagons.  The  women  and  children 
have  taken  their  places  in  them.  The  pilot  (a 
borderer  who  has  passed  his  life  on  the  verge  of 
civilization,  and  has  been  chosen  to  the  post  of 


i 

II 

i 

I 

•  1 

i 

1 

Ml 

, 

hi 

I 

^il 

\ 

'"'H 


i: 


<:  -"1  .i, 


!»     i 


^l.,> 


H\ 


!  I 


tf -■ 

1 

Ml 

1 

"'^fS' ' 


150        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

leader  from  his  knowledge  of  the  savage  and  his 
experience  in  travel  through  roadless  wastes) 
stands  ready,  in  the  midst  of  his  pioneers  and 
aides,  to  mount  and  lead  the  way. 

Ten  or  fifteen  young  men,  not  to  lead  to-day, 
form  another  cluster.  They  are  ready  to  start  on 
a  buffalo  hunt,  are  well  mounted  and  well  armed, 
as  they  need  to  be,  for  the  unfriendly  Sioux  have 
driven  the  buffalo  out  of  the  I»latte,  and  the 
hunters  must  ride  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  to  reach 
them.  The  cow-drivers  are  hastening,  as  they  get 
ready,  to  the  rear  of  their  charge,  to  collect  and 
prepare  them  for  the  day's  march. 

It  is  on  the  stroke  of  seven;  the  rushing  to  and 
fro,  the  cracking  of  whips,  the  loud  command  to 
oxen,  and  what  seemed  to  be  the  inextricable  con- 
fusion of  the  last  ten  minutes  has  ceased.  For- 
tunately, every  one  has  been  found,  and  every 
teamster  is  at  his  post.  The  clear  nof  s  of  a 
trumpet  sound  in  the  front;  the  pilot  and  his 
guards  mount  their  horses;  the  leading  division  of 
wagons  move  out  of  the  encampment  and  take  up 
the  line  of  march;  the  ^-st  fall  into  th(4r  places 
with  the  precision  of  clock-work,  until  the  post,  so 
lately  full  of  life,  sinks  back  into  that  solitude 
that  seems  to  reign  over  the  broad  plain  and 
rushing  river,  as  the  caravan  draws  its  lazy  length 
toward  the  distant  El  Dorado. 

It  is  with  the  hunters  we  will  briskly  canter 


THE  WONDERFUL  PANORAMA. 


151 


toward  the  bold  but  smooth  and  grassy  blul'i's 
that  boimd  the  broad  valley,  for  we  are  not  yet  in 
sight  of  the  grander,  but  less  beautiful,  scenery 
(of  the  Chimney  Kock,  Court  House,  and  other 
bluffs  so  nearly  resembling  giant  castles  and 
palaces)  made  by  the  passage  of  the  Platte 
through  the  Highlands  near  Laramie.  We  have 
been  traveling  briskly  for  more  than  an  hour. 
We  have  reached  the  top  of  the  bluff,  and  now 
have  turned  to  view  the  wonderful  panoranm 
spread  before  us. 

To  those  who  have  not  been  on  the  Platte,  my 
powers  of  description  are  wholly  inadequate  to 
convev  an  idea  of  the  vast  extent  and  grandeur  of 
the  picture,  and  the  rare  beauty  and  distinctness 
of  its  detail.  No  haze  or  fog  obscures  objects  in 
the  pure  and  transparent  atmosphere  of  this  lofty 
region.  To  those  accustomed  to  onlj-  the  murky 
air  of  the  sea-board,  no  correct  judgment  of  dis- 
tance can  be  formed  by  sight,  and  objects  which 
they  think  they  can  reach  in  a  two  hours'  walk, 
may  be  a  day's  travel  away;  and  though  the  even- 
ing air  is  a  better  conductor  of  sound,  on  the  high 
plain  during  tlie  day  the  report  of  the  loudest 
rifle  sounds  little  louder  than  the  bursting  of  a 
cap;  and  while  the  report  can  be  heard  but  a  few 
hundred  yards,  the  smoke  of  the  discharge  may  be 
seen  for  miles. 

So  extended  is  the  view  from  the  bluff  on  which 


:rf 


(».  'J 


ul*    : 


1.1    '.^''  I, 


in 


,1  I 


t  ^ » 


;     is 

1^    ■  '  i! 


i 


1  :!: 


152        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON, 

the  hunters  stand,  that  the  broad  ri .  %  glowing 
under  the  morning  sun  like  a  sheet  of  silver,  and 
the  broader  emerald  valley  that  borders  it,  stretch 
away  to  the  distance  until  tlioy  narrow  at  almost 
two  points  in  the  horizon,  and  when  first  seen,  the 
vast  pile  of  the  AYind  River  mountains,  thouuh 
hundreds  of  miles  away,  looks  clear  and  distinct 
as  a  white  cottage  on  the  plain. 

We  are  full  six  miles  away  from  the  line  of 
march;  though  everything  is  dwarfed  by  distance, 
it  is  seen  distinctly.  The  caravan  has  been  about 
two  hours  in  motion,  and  is  now  extended  as 
widely  as  a  prudent  regard  for  safety  will  permit. 
First,  near  the  bank  of  the  shining  river,  is  a  com- 
pany of  horsemen;  they  seem  to  have  found  an 
obstruction,  for  the  main  body  has  halted,  while 
three  or  four  ride  rapidly  along  the  bank  of  a  creek 
or  slough.  They  are  hunting  a  favorable  crossing 
for  the  wagons;  while  we  look  they  have  suc- 
ceeded; it  has  apparently  required  no  work  to 
make  it  possible,  while  all  but  one  of  the  party 
have  passed  on,  and  he  has  raised  a  flag,  no  doubt  a 
signal  to  the  wagons  to  steer  their  course  to  where 
he  stands. 

The  leading  teamster  sees  him,  though  h<  is  yet 
two  miles  off,  and  steers  his  course  directly 
towards  him,  all  tlie  wagons  following  in  his  track. 
They  (the  wagons)  form  a  line  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  in  length;  some  of  the  teamsters  ride  upon 


•i   f 


ON  THE  MARCH. 


153 


the  front  of  their  wagons,  sonic  march  beside  their 
teams;  scattered  along-  the  line  companies  of 
women  and  chiUlren  are  taking  exercise  on  foot; 
they  gather  bouquets  of  rare  and  beautiful  tlowers 
that  line  the  way;  near  them  stalks  a  stately  grey- 
hound or  an  Irish  wolf  dog,  apparently  proud  of 
keeping  watch  and  ward  over  his  master's  wife 
and  children. 

Next  comes  a  band  of  horses;  two  or  three  men 
or  boys  follow  them,  the  docile  and  sagacious 
animals  scarcely  needing  this  attention,  for  they 
have  learned  to  follow  in  the  rear  of  the  wagons, 
and  know  that  at  noon  they  will  be  allowed  to 
graze  and  rest.  Their  knowledge  of  time  seems  as 
accurate  as  of  the  place  they  are  to  occupy  in  the 
line,  and  even  a  full-blown  thistle  will  scarce 
tempt  them  to  straggle  or  halt  until  the  dinner 
hour  is  arrived. 

Not  so  with  the  large  herd  of  horned  beasts  that 
bring  up  the  rear;  lazy,  selfisli  and  unsocial,  it  has 
been  a  task  to  get  them  in  motion,  the  strong 
always  ready  to  domineer  over  the  weak,  halt  in 
the  front  and  forbid  the  weaker  to  pass  them. 
Tliey  seem  to  move  only  in  fear  of  the  driver's 
whip;  though  in  the  morning  full  to  repletion, 
they  have  not  been  driven  an  hour,  before  their 
hunger  and  thirst  seem  to  indicate  a  fast  of  days' 
duration.  Through  all  the  day  long  their  greed  is 
never  sated  nor  their  thirst  quenched,  nor  is  there 


iy 


?  1 


iM 


^mi^ 


II 


1-% 
1     sa.tf 


i  Sin. 

i  i  *i£    !' 


'I  \ 


('■"*i^i, 


If     '\^  'l 
K  :■•  III'   n 

Mi  '    '1     '1 

lit' 

i 

1 

.  '1 

'^1 

!  '1 

^1 

f    I 


I    I 


154         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

a  moment  of  relaxation  of  tlio  tedions  and  vexa- 
tious labors  of  their  drivers,  although  to  all  others 
the  march  furnishes  some  reason  of  relaxation  or 
enjoyment.      For  the  cow-drivers,  there  is  none. 

But  from  the  standpoint  of  the  hunters  the 
vexations  are  not  apparent;  the  crack  of  Avhip  and 
loud  objurgations  are  lost  in  the  distance. 
Nothing  of  the  moving  panorama,  smooth  and 
orderl}^  as  it  appears,  has  more  attraction  for  the 
eye  than  tliat  vast  square  column  in  which  all 
colors  are  mingled,  moving  here  slowly  and  there 
briskly  as  impelled  by  horsemen  riding  furiously 
in  front  and  rear. 

But  the  picture,  in  its  grandeur,  its  wonderful 
mingling  of  colors  and  distinctness  of  detail,  is 
forgotten  in  contemplation  of  the  singular  people 
who  give  it  life  and  animation.  No  other  race  of 
men,  with  the  means  at  tiieir  command,  would  un- 
dertake so  great  a  journey;  none  save  these  could 
successfully  perform  it,  with  no  previous  prepara- 
tion, relying  only  on  the  fertility  of  their  invention 
to  devise  the  means  to  overcome  each  danger  and 
difficulty  as  it  arose. 

They  have  undertaken  to  perform  with  slow- 
moving  oxen,  a  journey  of  two  thousand  miles. 
The  way  lies  over  trackless  wastes,  wide  and  deep 
rivers,  rugged  and  lofty  mountains,  and  it  is  beset 
with  hostile  savages.  Yet,  whether  it  were  a 
deep  river  with  no  tree  upon  its  banks,  a  rugged 


mm 

vm 


THE  HUNTING  PARTY. 


155 


defile  where  even  a  loese  horse  eouhl  not  pass,  a 
hill  too  steep  for  him  to  climb,  or  a  threatened 
attack  of  an  enemy,  they  are  always  found  ready 
and  equal  to  the  occasion,  and  always  conquerors. 
May  we  not  call  them  men  of  destiny?  They  are 
people  chanj^ed  in  no  essential  particulars  from 
their  ancestors,  who  have  followed  closely  on  the 
footsteps  of  the  receding  savage,  from  the  Atlantic 
sea-board  to  the  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi. 

But  while  we  have  been  gazing  at  the  picture  in 
the  valley,  the  hunters  have  been  examining  the 
high  plain  in  the  other  direction.  Some  dark 
moving  objects  have  been  discovered  in  the  dis- 
tance, and  all  are  closely  watching  them  to  dis- 
cover what. they  are,  for  in  the  atmosphere  of  the 
plains  a  flock  of  crows  marching  miles  away,  or  a 
baud  of  buffaloes  or  Indians  at  ten  times  the  dis- 
tance look  alike,  and  many  ludicrous  mistakes 
occur.  But  these  are  buffaloes,  for  two  have 
struck  their  heads  together,  and  are  alternately 
pushing  each  otlier  back.  The  hunters  mount  and 
away  in  pursuit,  and  I,  a  poor  cow-driver,  must 
hurry  back  to  my  daily  toil,  and  take  a  scolding 
from  my  fellow-herders  for  so  long  playing  truant. 

The  pilot,  by  measuring  the  ground  and  timing 
the  speed  of  the  wagons  and  the  walk  of  his  horses, 
has  determined  the  rate  of  each,  so  as  to  enable 
him  to  select  the  nooning  place,  as  nearly  as  the 
requisite  grass  and  water  can  be  had  at  the  end  of 


.lilt 


■!:    »• 


t        I  M4 


iii. 


vl!: 


'■t.       i 


? 

III    "^'1 

■,^    ' 

iit, 

'■'1 
1  . 

1 . 

f  "f 


ks   i 


|i    f 


156         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

five  hours'  ti'av(»l  of  tho  waj^oiis.  To-day,  tlio 
j^Tonnd  boiiio-  favorable,  Httio  time  has  beeu  lost 
iu  preparino;  the  road,  so  that  he  and  Ids  pioneers 
are  at  the  nooiiiii<>-  phiee  an  hour  in  advance  of  the 
wagons,  which  time  is  spent  in  preparinj?  con- 
venient waterinj;-  phices  for  the  aidnials,  and 
di}j;\i;in«jf  little  wells  near  the  bank  of  the  Platte. 

As  the  teams  are  not  nuyoked,  but  simply 
tnrne<l  loose  from  their  waj>()ns,  a  corral  is  not 
formed  at  no<tn,  but  the  waj^ons  are  drawn  uj)  in 
columns,  four  abreast,  the  leadiuj;'  wa^on  of  each 
platoon  on  the  left — the  i)la toons  bein<»-  formed 
with  that  view.  This  brings  friends  together  at 
noon  as  well  as  at  night. 

To-day,  an  extra  session  of  the  Council  is  being 
held,  to  settle  a  dis])ute  that  does  not  admit  of  de- 
lay, behveen  a  ])roi)rietor  and  a  young  man  who 
'jas  undertaken  to  do  a  man's  service  on  the  jour- 
ney for  bed  and  board.  Many  such  engagements 
exist,  and  much  interest  is  taken  in  the  manucM* 
this  high  court,  from  which  there  is  no  ai»i)eal, 
will  define  the  rights  of  each  party  in  such  engage- 
ments. 

The  Council  was  a  high  court  in  a  most  exalted 
sense.  It  was  a  Senate,  compitsed  of  the  ablest 
jiud  most  respected  fathers  of  the  emigration.  It 
exercised  boUi "legislative  and  judicial  powers,  and 
its  laws  and  decisions  proved  it  equal  and  worthy 
the  high  trust  r(»posed  in  It.      Its  sessions  were 


A  NOVEL  COURT.  157 

usually  liHd  on  days  when  (lie  caravan  was  not 
movini;-.     It  tirst  took  tlie  state  of  tlic  litth'  coni- 


nionwcalth  into  consideration;  r<'vis<Ml 


or  ro])ealo<l 


rules  defective  or  obsolete,  and  enacU-d  sncli  others 
as  the  exij^encies  seemed  to  require.  The  common 
weal  beinj,^  cared  for,  it  next  resolved  itself  into  a 
court  to  hear  and  settle  private  disputes  and 
grievances. 

The  oflender  and  the  aiip^rieved  appeared  bef 
it;    witnesses    wei-e   examined 


ore 


were  heard  by  themselves  and 

sel.     Tile  jud<;es  thus  beinu'  made  fnll 


and     the    ])ar(ies 
sometimes  bv  coiin- 


y  accpiainted 
lo  way  inlluenc«Ml  oi' 


with  the  case,  and  beinj^'  in  i 
cramped  by  technicalities,  decided  all  cases 
accordino'  to  their  merits.  There  was  but  little 
use  for  !awy(>rs  before  this  coui't,  for  no  plea  was 
entei'tained  which  was  calculated  to  hinder  or  de- 
feat the  ends  of  justice. 

Many  of  these  .Indices  have  since  won  honors  in 
hii-her  sjdiei-es.  They  have  aided  to  establish  on 
Hie  br«»ad  basis  of  right  and  universal  liberty  two 
of  the  julJarsofourCh-eat  i:ei)ublic  in  the  Occident. 
Some  of  the  young  men  who  ai)peared  before  them 
as  advocates  have  themselves  sat  upon  the  highest 
judicial  tribunal,  comman(k>d  armies,  been  (Jov- 
ernors  of  States,  and  taken  high  positions  in  the 
Senate  of  the  Xatiim. 

It  is  now  one  o'clock;  the  bugle  has  sounded, 
and  the  caravan  has  resumed  its  westward  jour- 


■'■  h 

. 

"  ! 

■f 

If 

i 

1 » I « » 

till 


t  •    -I  ■ 

SBt      i 


•1  ''V 


« 


4      i|, 


1  1 

-1 

|1 

)* 

:ii 

t>t 

1*) 

"1 

f 
t 

h 


I  ,1 


•I 

1 1 1:! 
it 


t 


158         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

ne3\  It  is  in  the  same  order,  but  the  eveninjr  is  far 
less  animated  than  the  morniufv  march;  a  drowsi- 
ness has  fallen  apparently  on  man  and  beast; 
teamsters  drop  asleep  on  their  perches  and  even 
when  Avalking  by  their  teams,  and  the  words  of 
<'omniand  are  now  addressed  to  the  slowly-creep- 
ing- oxen  ill  the  softened  tenor  of  a  v  oman  or  the 
pipiuo-  treble  of  children,  while  the  snores  of  team- 
sters make  a  dronin^'  accompaniment. 

But  a  little  incident  breaks  the  monotony  of  the 
mn rch.  An  emio-rant's  wife,  whose  state  of  health 
has  caused  Dr.  Whitman  to  travel  near  the 
wan-on  for  the  dny,  is  now  taken  with  violent 
illness.  The  Doctor  has  had  the  wagon  driven  out 
of  the  line,  a  tent  pitche<l  and  a  fire  kindled. 
Many  conjectures  are  hazarded  in  regard  to  this 
mysterious  proceeding,  and  as  to  why  this  lone 
wagon  is  to  be  left  behind. 

And  we,  too,  must  leave  it,  hasten  to  the  front 
and  note  the  proceedings,  for  the  sun  is  now 
getting  low  in  the  west,  and  at  length  the  pains- 
taking i)ilot  is  stnnding  ready  to  c(»nduct  the  tniin 
in  the  circle  which  he  had  previously  meiisured 
iuid  marked  out,  which  is  to  form  the  invariable 
fortification  for  the  night. 

The  lejiding  wagons  follow  him  so  nearly  round 
the  circle,  that  but  a  wagon  length  s<'parates  Hiom. 
Each  wagon  follows  in  its  track,  the  rear  closing 
on  the  front  until  its  tongue  and  ox-chains  w*vi 


ij, 


!l 


(I 


mmi: 


THE  ENCAMPMENT. 


159 


perfectly  reach  from  one  to  the  otiier,  utkI  s<» 
accurate  the  measurenieiit  and  perfect  the  prac- 
tice, that  the  himlinost  waiion  of  the  train  always 
precisely  closes  the  j;atcAvay.  Ah  each  wajj^on  is 
brought  into  position,  it  is  (Iroi)pe(l  from  its  team 
(the  teams  being  inside  the  circle),  the  team  un- 
yoked, and  the  yokes  and  chains  are  used  to  con- 
nect the  wajA'on  strongly  with  that  in  its  front. 

Within  ten  minutes  from  the  time  the  Icadiu"- 
wagon  haKcd  the  barricade  is  formed,  the  (cams 
unyoked  and  di-iven  out  to  i)asture.  Every  on<'  is 
busy  prei)arino-  fires  of  buffalo  chips  to  cook  the 
evening  meal,  ])itching  tents  and  otherwise  pre- 
l)aring  for  the  night. 

There  are  anxious  watchers  for  the  absent 
wagon,  for  there  are  many  matrons  who  may  be 
afflicted  like  its  inmate  before  the  journey  is  over, 
and  they  fear  the  strange  and  startling  practi<'e  of 
this  Oregon  doctor  will  be  dangerous.  But  as  th«' 
sun  goes  down,  the  a1>sent  wagon  rolls  into  camj), 
Die  bright,  si)enl<ing  face  and  cheery  look  of  the 
doctor,  who  ri<les  in  advan<e,  declare  wllhoul 
words  that  all  is  well,  and  (hat  both  mother  and 
child  are  comfortable. 

I  would  fain  now  and  here  pay  a.  passing  (ribn(e 
to  (hat  nolde  and  devoted  man,  l>r.  NMiitniiiii.  I 
will  ob(rude  no  oHier  Uiime  ui).)n  (he  reader,  nor 
w<»idd  I  his,  were  he  «tf  on:-  !>;ii(v  or  even  liviim\ 
bu(   his  s(ay  wi(h  us  was  transien(,  though  the 


1      ; 


i"  'Y 


160        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


tfn 


good  he  (lid  was  permanent,  and  he  has  long  since 
died  at  his  post. 

From  the  time  he  Joined  us  on  the  Platte,  until 
h  ^  left  us  at  Fort  Hall,  his  great  experience  and  in- 
domitable energy  was  of  priceless  value  to  the  mi- 
grating column.  His  constant  advice,  which  we 
knew  was  based  upon  a  knowledge  of  the  road  be- 
fore us,  was  "travel,  travel,  travel — nothing  else 
will  take  you  to  the  end  of  your  journey;  nothing  is 
wise  that  does  not  help  you  along;  nothing  is  good 
for  you  that  causes  a  moment's  delay." 

I  lis  great  authority  as  a  physician  and  complete 
success  in  the  case  above  referred  to,  saved  us 
many  prolonged  and  perliaps  ruinous  delays  from 
similar  causes,  and  it  is  no  disparagement  to  others 
to  say  that  to  no  other  individual  are  the  immi- 
grants of  1843  so  much  indebted  for  the  success- 
ful conclusion  of  their  journey,  as  to  Dr.  Marcus 
Whitman. 

All  able  to  b(»ar  arms  in  the  party  had  been 
formed  into  three  comi»anies,  and  each  of  these 
into  four  watches;  every  liiird  night  it  is  the  duty 
of  one  of  these  compjiiiies  to  keep  watch  and  ward 
over  the  cam]),  and  it  is  so  arranged  that  each 
watch  takes  its  turn  of  guard  duty  through  the 
dilTerent  watches  of  the  night.  Those  forming  the 
lirst  watch  to-night,  will  be  secoml  on  duty,  then 
third  and  fourth,  which  brings  them  all  through 


li 


REV.  CUiHING  EELLS,  D.  D. 
Founder  of  Whiiman  College. 


■"•y 


( 

1        '     ■ 

p 

if;   !h  1 

a'  '  ?i 


?'-.'!K  i 


li  i  I 


».;      ■               '  f 

1 

Jj^^^WS^g'l 

f 

if 

Biil 

ISBk 

%.i '. 

CAMP  RECREATIONS. 


161 


the  watches  of  the  nijijlit.     They   be.i;iii   at   eight 
<>'(  lock  p.  m.  and  end  at  four  o'clock  a.  iii. 

It  i8  not  yet  eight  o'clock  when  the  first  watch 
is  to  be  set;  the  evening  meal  is  just  over,  an<l  the 
corral  now  free  from  the  intrusion  of  horses  or  cat- 
tle, groups  of  cliildren  are  scattered  over  it.  The 
larger  are  taking  a  game  of  romps;  "the  wee,  tod- 
dling things"  are  being  taught  that  great  achieve- 
ment which  distinguishes  men  from  the  lower  ani- 
mals. Before  a  tent  near  the  river,  a  violin  makes 
lively  music  and  some  youths  and  maidens  have 
improvised  a  dance  upon  the  green;  in  another 
quarter  a  flute  gives  its  mellow  and  melancholy 
notes  to  the  still  night  air,  which,  as  they  float 
away  over  the  quiet  river,  seem  a  lament  for  the 
past  rather  than  for  a  hope  of  the  future. 

It  has  been  a  prosperous  day;  more  than  twenty 
miles  have  been  accomplished  of  the  great  jour- 
ney.  The  encampment  is  a  good  one;  one  of  the 
causes  that  threatened  im:v]\  future  delay  has  just 
been  removed  by  the  skill  and  energy  of  "that  good 
angel"  of  the  emigrants.  Dr.  Whitn'ian,  and  if  has 
lift(Ml  a  load  from  tiie  hearts  of  the  elders.  Many 
of  these  are  assembled  around  the  good  doctor  at 
the  tent  of  the  pilot  (which  is  his  home  for  the 
time  being),  and  are  giving  grave  attention  ro  his 
wise  and  energetic  counsel.  The  care-Avorn  pilot 
sits  ah)of  (piietly  smoking  his  pii)e,  for  he  knows 
the  grave  Doctor  is  "strength  in  his  hands." 


'b 


i 


162        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

But  time  ])ass(^s,  the  wateli  is  set  for  the  nioht, 
the  council  of  ^rood  men  Jias  been  broken  up  and' 
each  has  returned  to  his  own  (luarters.    The  flute 
has  whispered  its  hist  lamc^nt  to  the  deepening 
night.    The  violin  is  silent  and  the  dancers  have 
dispersed.    Enamored  youths  have  whispei-ed    a 
tender  "good  night"  in  the  ear  of  blushing  maid- 
ens, or  stolen  a  kiss  from  the  lips  of  some  future 
bride;  for  Cupid,  here  as  elsewhere,  has  been  busv 
bringing  together  congenial   hearts,  and   among 
these  simple  people,  he  alone  is  consulted  in  form- 
ing the  marriage  tie.    Even  the  Doctor  and  the 
pilot  have  finished  their  confidential  interview  and 
have  separated  for  the  night.    All  is  huslunl  and 
repose  from  the  fatigues  of  the  day,  save  the  vigi- 
lant  guard,  and  the  wakeful  leader  who  still  has 
cares  upon  his  mind  that  forbid  sleep. 

He  hears  the  ten  o'clock  relief  taking  post,  and 
the  "all  well"  report  of  the  returned  guard;  the 
night  deepens,  yet  he  seeks  not  tlie  needed  repose. 
At  length  a  sentinel  hurries  to  him  with  the  wel- 
come report  that  a  party  is  approaching,  as  yet  too 
far  away  for  its  character  to  be  determined,  and 
he  instantly  hurries  out  in  the  direction  seen. 

This  he  does  l)oth  from  incliui-.lion  and  duty,  for, 
in  times  past,  the  camp  has  l>een  unnecessarily 
alarmed  by  timid  or  inexperienced  sentinels,  caus- 
ing much  confusion  and  fright  amongst  women 
and  children,  and  it  had  been  made  a  rule  that  all 


A  NIGHT  ALARM. 


163 


extraordinary  incideuts  of  the  uij.ht  should  be  re- 
ported directly  to  the  pilot,  who  alone  had  author- 
ity to  call  out  the  military  streufttli  of  the  column, 
or  so  much  of  it  as  was,  in  his  judgment,  necessary 
to  prevent  a  stampede  or  repel  an  enemy. 

To-night  he  is  at  no  loss  to  determine  that  the 
approaching  party  are  our  missing  hunters,  and 
that  they  have  met  with  success,  and  he  only  waits 
until,  by  some  further  signal,  he  can  know  that  no 
ill  has  happened  to  them.    This  is  not  long  want- 
ing;  he  does  not  even  wait  tlieir  arrival,  but  the 
last  care  of  the  day  being  removed  and  the  last 
duties  performed,  he,  too,  seeks  the  rest  that  will 
enable  him  to  go  through  tlie  same  routine  to-mor- 
row.    But  here  I  leave  him,  for  my  task  is  also 
done,  and,  unlike  his,  it  is  to  be  repeated  no  more 
After  passing  through  such  trials  and  dangers, 
nothing  could  have  been  more  clieering  to  these 
tired  immigrants  than  the  band  of  (^vyuse  and 
Nez   Perces  Indians,  with    park    muh^s    loaded 
with  supplies,  meeting  the  Doctor  upon  the  moun- 
tains with  a  glad  welcome.    From  them  he  learned 
that  in  his  absence  his  mill  had  been  burned,  but 
The  Uev.  11.  11.  Spalding,  anticipating  the  needs  of 
the  caravan,  had  furiiisluMl  Hour  from  his  mill,  and 
nothing-  was  ever  more  joyously  received. 

Dr.  Whitman  also  received  letters  urging  him  to 
hurry  on  to  his  mission.  He  selected  one  of  his 
most  trusty  Cayuse  Indian  guides,  Istikus,  and 


1 :     1 

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now   MAIU'HM  WHITMAN  SAVIflD  OIIKOON. 


|tln<'('<l  iIh'  coinpiiiiv  iiiidrr  his  Iciwi.     lie  wmn  no 
lon^jfiT  11  immm'nnKv  for  ils  roniforl  mikI  sjil't'ly.    'IMio 


iu«»sl  iioliibl 


V  t>\('iil  III  jMoiiccr  hiHJory  is  rcjirlmij 


ils  ciiliiiiiiHiioii.     Tluil   loll};'  Iniiii    »»!'    chiivjihm'ov- 

(MTtl    \VJI}iOMS   lllOVill<;'  JKI'OSS    llu>   pliiiiis,   (lldSO   I  \\  o 

luiiidnMl  ciimiHli'i's  ;i(  nii;lil,  villi  slioiils  niHJ 
linijilihT  and  siii<;iii};  of  rliildrm,  wmm'c  mII  ih'W 
and  slnuijAr  lo  tlicsc  solil  inios.  As  siiii|>h>  I'licls  in 
hislorv,  lt»  iiii  AiiMM'iraii  llicy  afc  proroniidly  in- 
l(>i'('siiiio,  hill  to  I  lie  I  lioiiulil  I'nl  sliidoiil  who  virws 
itsiiIIns,  ihov  assiuiu'  .  '>orlioiis  whosr  •j;raiid<'iii' 
is  iiol  easily  ovrr-(\stii        imI. 

iliil  iho  lilth>  hand  h.is  conic  sat't'l\  across  Iho 
lvocUi(>s;  has  I'ordt'd  ami  swiUii  many  in(crv<'nln<;' 
rivors;  ihodiu'ary  plains,  with  salcral  lis  dnsi  and 
hnlValo  liiials.  had  hocn  Icl'l  holiind,  and  hero  Ihoy 
slami  upon  a  slope  of  (ho  rarlhosi  woslorn  i'aiij»'o 
of  monnlains,  with  Iho  I'orlilo  Tool  hills  and  hoan- 
(iful  ut'oon  meadows  reaching'  as  far  away  as  I  ho 
eye  eai'  -lei'.  'I'he  wagons  are  well  hunched.  l<'or 
weeks  (hey  have  h(>(Mi  «'aii(M'  ((►  see  (he  land  of 
pr«)niist>.  It  is  a  goodly  si^lil  (o  see,  as  (hey  tile 
down  the  inoiinlain  side,  one  hundred  and  (weiily- 
tiv»»  W!..i;()iis,  one  (luMisand  head  of  loose  slock,  cal- 
t  le.  horses  and  shee|>,  and  ahoni  one  tlnnisand  men, 
wonuMi  and  ehildreii,  and  Orenon  is  saved  (o  the 
I'nion, 

Who  did  i(? 

We  leave  every  (honfihtfnl,  hones!  reader  lo 
answor  the  qiiory. 


(UlAPTIOIt    VIII. 


A  nACKWAIll)  LOOK  AT  llMSUI/rH. 


The  rcjidop  of  liiNlory  is  oClcii  iuovimI  lo  jid 


niira- 


iion  at   lli<>  dnsli  aihl  roiirai 


;('  of  .some  hohl  Iuto, 


t'Vcii  wlicii  JH'  lias  railed  in  ||i 


«'  work  he  kcI,  out  j 


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accoinplisli.  The  oviiiiis  lo  invciil,  willi  Mi<>  rour- 
a-;*'  lo  |>rosr('iil(',  lias  ol'lcii  lailcd  in  rcachinj;  llic 
iio|M'(l  lor  ivsulls.  Thcpa^csor  liiHlory  of  all  liii\- 
ai'c  ImrdciMMl  wilh  Hk^  plaiiilive  n-y,  'MHi,  foi-  iii'.|,( 


or  IMiicliei- 


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csM  of  ';i'(>al  <'V('iil.s 


Uial  iiiarlvH  l-cal  {^cniiiM,  and  1  lie  lai-';cHl  wisdom. 

or  Wliihnaii  i(  wasa  Icadiii/^cliaraclci-iNlic.  lie 
did  lli(>  i-inlii  lliiiio  JuslaMlic  ri«;li(  lime. '  lli.s  lailli 
was  (Miiial  lo  his  <'onra<;v  and  when  his  dnl,v  was 
made  clear  lo  liis  mind,  lliei-e  wjis  no  impe<limeni 
llial  li<>  would  nol  allemjd  l(»  oveiTome.  Now  we 
are  to  slinl.y  I  In*  resnllsol'  liis  heroic  ride,  and  will 
Hee  how  dan;;erons  wonhl  have  been  an.y  <lela.y. 

We  have  noted  Wehslcr's  Idler  lo  I  he  lOn^lish 
iMinislcr,  daled  in  INK),  in  which  he  said,  'The 
ownership  ol'  Ihe  whole  connlr.y  (rel'errino  |<,  o,.,.. 
you)  will  likely  follow  Ihe  j-reater  selllemeiit  and 


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Sderices 

Corporation 


)3  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y    14380 

(716)  872-4503 


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166        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


i    il 


larger  amount  of  population,"  and  this  we  may  say 
was  tiie  common  sentiment  of  oiir  early  statesmen, 
and  not  peculiar  to  Mr.  Webster.  But  Whitman 
had  started  a  new  train  oi  thought  and  given  a 
new  direction  to  the  policy  of  the  administration. 

The  Presid3nt  believed  in  the  truthful  report  of 
the  hero  with  his  frozen  limbs,  who  had  ridden 
four  thousand  miles  in  midwinter  without  pay  or 
hope  of  reward,  to  i)lead  for  Oregon.  Immediately 
upon  tlie  close  of  the  conference  the  record  shows 
that  Secretary  Webster  wrote  to  Minister  Everett 
and  said:  "The  CJovernment  of  the  United 
States  has  never  offered  any  line  south  of  forty- 
nine  and  never  will,  and  England  must  not  expect 
anything  south  of  the  forty-ninth  degree." 

That  is  a  wonderful  change.  T^pon  receipt  of 
the  news  that  Dr.  Whitman,  in  June,  "Had  started 
to  Oregon  with  a  great  caravan  numbering  nearly 
one  thousand  souls,"  another  letter  was  sent  to 
the  English  Minister,  ptill  more  pointed  and  im- 
pressive. 

The  Tresident  and  his  Secretary  at  once  began 
to  arrange  terms  for  a  treaty  with  England  re- 
garding the  boundary  line,  and  negotiations  were 
speedily  begun.  It  did  not  look  to  be  a  hopeful 
task  when  the  Asiiburton- Webster  Treat  v.  iust 
signed  in  1842,  had  been  a  bone  of  contention  for 
forty-eighi  years.  S(ill  more  did  it  look  «lis"<)urag- 
ing  from  the  fact  that  diplomats  the  vear  before 


FIFTY-FOUR  FORTY  OR  FIGHT. 


167 


had  resolved  to  leave  the  Oregon  boundary  out  of 
the  case,  as  it  was  said,  "Otherwise  it  would  likely 
defeat  the  whole  treaty." 

But  suddenly  new  blood  had  been  injected  into 
American  veins  in  and  about  Washington.  They 
saw  a  or,>at  fertile  country,  thirty  times  as  large 
as  Massachusetts,  which  was  rightfully  theirs  and 
yet  claimed  by  a  power  many  thousand  miles  sepa- 
rated from  it.  The  national  blood  was  aroused. 
A  great  political  party,  not  satisfied  with  Secre- 
tary Webster's  modest  "latitude  of  forty-nine  ile- 
grees"  emblazoned  on  its  banners,  "Oregon  and 
fifty  four  forty  or  fight." 

The  spirit  of  'Tfi  an<l  lcS12  seemed  to  have  sud- 
denly been  aroused  throug'iout  the  Nation.  Peo- 
ple did  not  stop  to  ask,  Avho  has  done  it,  or  how  it 
all  hapi)ened;  but  no  intelligent  or  thoughtful 
student  of  history  can  doubt  how  it  all  happened, 
or  who  was  its  author.  It  was  also  easy  to  see 
that  it  was  to  be  no  forty-eight  year  campaign  be- 
fore the  question  must  be  adjudicated. 

The  lion.  Elwood  Evans,  in  a  speech  in  1871, 
well  said:  "The  arrival  of  Dr.  Whitman  in  lS4;i 
was  opportune.  The  President  was  satisfied  tliv 
territory  was  worth  preserving."  He  continues: 
"If  the  otter  had  been  made  in  the  Ashburtou 
Treaty  of  the  forty-niiitli  jmrallel  to  the  Columbia 
Kiver  and  thence  down  the  Columbia  tolh(^  Pacific 
Ocean,  it  would  have  been  accei)te(l,  but  the  visit 


Ik     t  I '.  \ 


f'rs^'i 


'!  i 


U- 

m 

1 

i 

'    ll'P  '^ 

^^1 

168         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON, 


of  Wliitinan  committed  the  President  ajj-ainst  any 
such  setthMiient." 

The  olTer  was  not  made  by  English  diph)mats, 
because  they  intended  to  have  a  much  hirger  slice. 
('a|)(ain  Johnny  (Irant  and  the  English  Hudson 
IJay  ollicials  made  their  greatest  blunder  in  allow- 
ing Whitman  to  make  his  i)erih)us  Winter  ride. 
They  were  not  prepared  for  the  sudden  change  in 
American  sentiment.  In  any  enthusiasm  for  our 
hero,  we  would  not  willingly  make  any  exagger- 
ated claim  for  his  services.  Prior  to  the  arrival  of 
Whitnum,  President  Tyler  had  shown  thouglilful 
int(M'est  in  the  Oregon  question,  and  in  his  nu-ssage 
in  IS  12  he  said:  "In  advance  of  the  acquirement 
of  individual  rights  to  those  lauds,  sound  policy 
dictates  that  every  effort  should  be  resorted  to  by 
tlie  two  Governments  to  settle  their  respective 
claims." 

Fifteen  days  before  the  arrival  of  Whitman, 
Senat<u'  Linn,  always  a  firm  friond  of  Oregon,  in  a 
resolution  called  for  information,  "Why  Oregon 
was  not  included  in  the  Ashburton-Webster 
Treaty."  This  resolution  passed  the  Senate,  but 
was  defeated  in  the  House.  Neither  the  President, 
Senators,  or  (Vrngressmen  ha<l  the  data  ui)on 
which  to  base  clear,  intelligent  action,  and  Wliit- 
man's  arrival  jast  when  Congress  was  closing  up 
its  business  gave  no  op])ortunity  for  the  wider  dis- 
cussion which  would  have  followed  then  and  there. 


THE  COUNTRY  AWAKES.  169 

It  was,  however,  another  evidence  of  timeliness, 
which  we  wish  to  keep  well  to  the  front  in  all  of 
Whitman's  work. 

All  can  see  how  fortunate  it  was  that  the  Ore- 
gon boundary  question  Avas  not  included  in  the 
Ashburton  Treaty  in  1S42,  and  that  it  had  waited 
for  later  adjudication.    Durin-  tli<^  summer  of  1S43 
the  people  of  the  entire  country  had  heard  of  the 
l^roat  overland  emigration  to  Oregon,  and  on  the 
8th  day    of   January,    1844,    Congress    was  noti- 
fied that  the  Whitman  immigration  to  Oregon  was 
a  grand  success,  and  upon  the  very  day  of  the  ar- 
rival of  tin's  news,  a  resolution  was  offered  in  the 
KS(4iate  which  called  for  the  instructions  to  uur 
Mini  ",ter  in  England,  and  all  correspondence  upon 
the  subject.    But  the  conservative  Senate  was  not 
quite  ready  for  such  a  move,  and  the  resolution 
was  defeated  by  a  close  vote.    But  two  days  after 
a  similar  resoluticm  was  passed  by  the  House. 

Urged  to  do  so  by  Whitman,  the  Lees,  Lovc^joy, 
Hpaldinjr,  Eclls  and  others,  scores  of  intellio(.„t 
emijrrants  flooded  their  (\mgressmen  with  leUers 
giving  glowing  descriptions  of  the  beauty  of  the 
country,  the  fertility  of  tlie  laml,  and  (h(«  mildness 
and  healthfulness  of  the  climate.  Even  Senator 
Winthrop,  who  at  <me  lime  declared  that  "Neither 
the  West  nor  the  country  at  lar^^e  had  any  real 
interest  in  retaining  Oregon;  that  we  would  not 
be  straitene<l  for  elbow  room  in  the  West  for  a 


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170 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


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IliouHsuid  vcars,"  was  anmscd  to  soiudhino;  of  en- 
llmsiasiii,  aiul  said  in  liis  i>lac(»  in  llio  Senate:  "For 
myself,  certainly,  I  believe  that  we  have  a  good 
title  to  the  whole  twelve  degrees  of  latitude  up  to 
lifty-four,  forty." 

Senator  Heutou  had  long  since  materially 
changed  his  views  from  those  he  held  when  he  had 
said  that  "The  ridge  of  tiie  iiocky  Mountains  may 
be  named  as  the  convenient,  natural  and  everlast- 
ing boundary."  Fremont,  not  Wliitnum,  had  con 
V(M*ted  him.  Benton  was  aggressive  nnd  intelli- 
gen(.  In  the  discussion  of  1844,  he  said:  "J^et  the 
emigrants  go  on  and  carry  their  rifles.  We  w'ant 
thirty  thousand  rities  in  the  valley  of  the  Oregon. 
The  war,  if  it  come,  will  not  be  topical;  it  will  not 
be  confine<l  to  Oregon,  but  will  embrace  the  pos- 
sessions of  the  two  i>owers  throughout  the  Olobe." 

In  the  <liscussion,  which  took  a  wide  turn,  many 
of  the  emiiuMit  statesmen  at  that  time  took  a  ])art. 
Prominent  among  them  was  (^illnmn,  Linn,  Ben- 
ton, Choate,  Berrien  and  Uives.  Many  of  them  tried 
the  most  ]H'rsuasive  Avor<ls  of  ])eace,  yet  no  one 
who  reads  the  s])eeches  and  the  ju'oceedings,  but 
will  ])erceive  the  wonderful  changes  in  ])ublic  sen- 
timent during  a  single  year.  The  year  1S44  en<hHl 
with  the  struggle  growing  every  day  more  intense. 
The  English  people  had  awakt^ned  to  the  fact  that 
they  had  to  nu^et  the  issue  and  there  would  not  be 
any  repetition  of  the  ohl  dallying  with  the  Maine 


THE  STRUGGLE  INCREASES  IN  INTENSITY.       171 


boimdaiy.  They  sent  to  this  eoimtry  Minister 
Pjickenhuni  as  Minister  IMenipoteutiary  to  ue^^o- 
tiate  the  treaty.  Mr.  Buchanan  acted  for  the 
United  States. 

It  was  talk  and  counter-talk.    Buchanan  \,hh 
one  of  the  leadin«(  si)irits  in  the  demand  for  tifiy- 
four  forty,  and  his  position  was  well  understo()d 
both  by  the  people  of  the  United  States  and  by 
England.     President  Tyler,  in  his  final  messao-e, 
earnestly  recommended    the    extension    of    the 
United  States  laws  over  the  Territory  of  Oregon. 
In  this  connection  it  Avill  be  remembered  that 
Dr.  Whitman,  only  a  few  months  before  the  great 
massacre,  in  which  he  and  his  noble  wife  lost  their 
lives,  rode  all  the  way    to  Oregon  City   to   urge 
Judge  Thornton  to  go  to  Wasliington  and  beg,  on 
the  part  of  the  people  of  Oregon,  for  a  "Provisional 
Government."    Judge  Thornton   believed    in  Dr. 
Whitman's  wisdom,  and  when  the  doctor  declared 
that  which  seemed  to  be  a  prophecy,  "Unless  this 
is  done,  nothing  will  save  even  my  mission  from 
murder,"    the  Judge  said,    "If    Governor    Abei- 
nethy  will  furnish  me  a  letter  to  the  President,  I 
will  go."     The  Governor  promptly  furnislied  the 
required  letter  and  Judge  Thornton  resigned  his 
position  as  Suprenu'  Judge.    All  know  of  the  fatal 
events  at  the  Whitman  Mission  in  less  than  two 
mouths  after  Judge  Thornton's  departure. 

But  the  boundary  question  lapped  over  into  Mr. 


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172        HOW  MARCUS  Vv^HITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


Polk's  administration  in  1845  with  a  promise  of 
lively  times.  President  Polk,  in  December,  1845, 
made  it  the  leading  question  in  his  message.  He 
covers  the  whole  question  in  dispute  and  says: 
"The  proposition  of  compromise  which  has  been 
made  and  rejected,  was  by  my  order  withdrawn, 
and  our  title  to  the  whole  of  Oregon  asserted,  and, 
as  it  is  believed,  maintained  by  irrefragable  facts 
and  arguments."  The  President  recommended  that 
the  joint  occupation  treaty  of  1818-1828  be  termi- 
nated by  the  stipulated  notice,  and  that  the  civil 
and  criminal  laws  of  the  United  States  be  ex- 
tended over  the  whole  of  Oregon,  and  that  a  line  of 
military  posts  be  established  along  the  route  from 
the  States  to  the  Pacific. 

If  the  reader  will  take  the  pains  to  read  the 
paper  which  Dr.  Whitman  by  re(iuest  sent  to  the 
Secretary  of  War  in  1843,  republished  in  the  ap- 
pendix of  this  volume,  he  will  lind  in  it  just  the 
recommendations  now  two  years  later  made  by 
the  President.  The  great  misfortune  was  that  it 
was  not  complied  with  promptly.  War  upon  a 
grand  scale  seemed  imminent.  A  leading  Senator 
announced  that  "War  may  now  be  looked  for  al- 
most inevitably." 

The  whole  tone  of  public  sentiment,  in  Congress 
and  out,  was  that  the  United  States  owned  Ore- 
gon, not  only  up  to  forty-nine  degrees,  but  up  to 
54   degrees,   40   minutes."    It  was   thought  that 


WEBSTER  SPEAKS. 


173 


the  resolution  of  notice  for  tlie  termination  of  the 
treaty  would  cause  a  declaration    of   war.     For 
forty  days  the  question  was  pendinj^-  before  the 
House  and  finally  passed  by  the  strong  vote  of  1(53 
for  to  54  against.    In  the  Senate    the   resolution 
covered  a  still  wider  range  and  a  longer  time.    But 
little  else  was  thought  or  talked  about.    Business 
throughout  the  land  was  at  a  standstill  in  the  sus- 
pense, or  was  hurrying  to  prepare  for  a  great  emer- 
gency.   The  wisest,  coolest-headed  Senators  still 
regarded  the  question  at  issue  open  for  peaceful 
settlement.   They  dwelt  upon  the  horrors  of  a  war, 
that  would  cost  the  Nation  five  hundred  millions 
in  treasure,  besides  the  loss  of  life. 

Webster,  who  had  been  so  soundly  abused  for 
his  Ashburton  Treaty,  had  held  aloof  from  this  dis- 
cussion. But  there  came  a  time  when  he  could  no 
longer  remain  silent,  and  he  put  himself  on  the 
record  in  a  single  sentence:  «It  is  my  opinion  that 
it  is  not  the  judgment  of  this  country,  or  that  of  the 
Senate,  that  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
should  run  the  hazard  of  a  war  for  Oregon,  by  re- 
nouncing as  no  longer  fit  for  consideration,  the 
proposition  of  adjustment  made  by  the  Govern- 
ment thirty  years  ago,  and  repeated  in  the  face  of 
the  world." 

Calhoun,  than  whom  no  Senator  was  more  influ- 
ential, urged  continued  peaceful  methods.  He 
said:  «A  question  of  greater  moment  never  has 
been  presented  to  Congress."    Others  counseled  a 


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174        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


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continuance  of  things  us  tbey  were  and  letting  im- 
migration after  the  bohl  Whitman  plan  settle  it. 

Suffice  it  here  to  say  that  both  Nations,  after  the 
wide  discussion  and  threats,  saw  war  as  a  costly 
experiment.  In  the  last  of  April  the  terms  of 
treaty  were  agreed  upon,  and  on  July  17th,  1840, 
both  Governments  had  signed  a  treaty  fixing  the 
boundary  line  at  forty-nine  degrees. 

Now  here  again  comes  in  the  timeliness  of  Whit- 
man's memorable  ride.  It  had  taken  every  day  of 
exciting  contest  in  Congress  since  that  event,  up  to 
April,  1840,  to  agree  upon  the  boundary  and  for 
America  to  get  her  Oregon.  On  the  13th  day  of 
May,  1846,  Congress  <leclared  war  against  Mexico, 
and  California  was  at  stake.  Suppose  Englan<l 
could  have  foreseen  that  event,  would  she  not  have 
declared  in  favor  of  a  longer  wait?  Who  that 
knows  England  does  not  know  that  she  would? 
With  England  still  holding  to  her  rights  in  Ore- 
gon how  easy  it  would  have  been  to  take  sides  with 
Mexico  and  to  have  helped  her  hold  California. 

But  we  won  not  only  California  and  New  Mex- 
ico, but  won  riches.  In  the  year  1848  gold  was  dis- 
covered in  California.  And  now  suppose  England 
could  have  foreseen  that,  as  she  would  have  known 
it  had  she  prolonged  the  negotiations,  would  she 
ever  have  signed  away  any  possessions  like  that 
rolled  in  gold?    When  did  the  great  and  powerful 


WHITMAN'S  ACTION  TIMELY.  175 

Kinjrdom  of  Oreat  Hritaiu  (-vcr  do  anythino-  of  the 
kiud?  ■         ** 

It  would  not  have  done  for  Whitman  to  have 
waited  for  next  year  and  warm  weather  as  his 
friends  demanded.  «I  must  -o,"  and  "now/^  and  at 
this  day  it  is  easy  to  see  from  the  li^ht  of  liistory 
how  God  rules  in  the  minds  and  hearts  of  men,  as 
he  rules  nations.  They,  as  men  and  nations,  turn 
aside  from  His  commands,  but  a  nmn  like  Marcus 
Whitman  obeys. 

Go  still  farther.    From  the  time  gold  was  dis- 
covered in  California  up  to  the  outbreak  of  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion,  nine  hundred    millions   of 
gold  Avere  dug  from  the  mines  of  California  and 
Oregon.    Where  did  it  go?    The  great  bulk  of  it 
went   into   storehouses    and    manufactories    and 
vaults  of  the  North.    The  South  was  sparselv  rep- 
resented in  California  and  Oregon  in  the  "early 
days.    We  repeat  that  when  the  war  broke  out  the 
great  bulk  of  the  yellow  metal  was  behind' the 
Union  army.    W^ho  don't  recognize  that  it  was  a 
great  power?    even  more  than  that,  it  was  a  con- 
trolling power.     The  Nation  was  to  be  tried  as 
uever  before.    Human  slavery  was  the  prize   for 
which  the  South  contended,  while  human  freedom 
soon  asserted  itself,  despite  all  opposition,  as  a  con- 
tending force  in  the  North.    But  the  wisest  were 
m  doubt  as  to  results.    They  could  not  see  how  it 
was  possible  that  "the  sum  of  all  villainies"  could 


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176        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

be  obliterated.    In  the  East  and  the  North  and  the 
West,  the  boys  in  blue  tloeked  to  the  standard,  and 
bayonets  .^learned  everywhere.    The  plow  was  left 
in  the  furrow,  and  the  hum  of  the  machine  shop 
was  not  heard.    The  tires  in  the  furnaces  and  forces 
went  out,  and  multitudes  were  in  despair  over  the 
mij;hty  struggle  at  hand.    The  Union  might  have 
been  saved  without  the  wealth  of  gold  of  Califor- 
nia and  Oregon;  it  might  have  proved  victorious, 
even  if  the  two  great  loyal  States  of  the  Pacific 
had  been  in  the  hands  of  strangers  or  enemies,  but 
they  were  behind  the  loyal  Union  army.    And  the 
men  marched  and  fought  and  sung — 

"In  the  beauty  of  the  lilies,  Christ  was  born  across  the  sea, 
With  a  glory  in  his  bosom,  that  transfigures  you  and  me; 
As  he  died  to  mal^e  men  holy,  let  us  die  to  make  men  free, 
While  God  is  marching  on," 

as  thev  marched,  leaving  graves  upon  every  moun- 
tain side  and  in  every  valley.  Appomattox  was 
reached,  and  lo,  the  chains  dropped  from  the  limbs 
of  six  million  slaves,  and  "The  tlag  of  beauty  and 
glory"  floated  from  Lake  to  Gulf  and  from  Ocean 
to  Ocean,  in  truth  as  in  song— 

"O'er  the  land  of  the  free. 
And  the  home  of  the  brave." 

Again,  older  readers  will  remember  with  what 
fear^and  trembling  they  opened  their  morning 
papers  for  many  months,  fearing  to  read  that  Eng- 


.^i:ti 


WHITMAN  COLLEGE,  WALLA  WALLA,  WASHINGTON. 


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SOME  OF  THE  RESULTS. 


177 


land  bad  accorded  "belligerent  rigbts"  to  tbe  C\)n- 
federacy.  Tbey  will  bave  a  vivid  recollection  of 
tbe  eloquent  orator,  Henry  Ward  Beecber,  as  be 
plead,  as  no  otber  man  could,  tbe  cause  of  tbe 
Union  in  Englisb  cities.  He  was  backed  up  by  old 
Jobn  Brigbt,  tbe  descendants  of  Penn,  (lurney  and 
Wilberforce,  and  tbe  old-time  enemies  of  bJiman 
slavery.  But  it  took  tbem  all  to  stem  tbe  tide.  At 
one  time  it  even  seemed  tbat  tbey  bad  won  o^^r 
Gladstone  to  tbeir  interests. 

Wbile  tbe  great  masses  of  tbe  Englisb  people 
were   in   sympatiiy   witb    tbe   Union   cause,   tbe 
moneyed  men  and  commerce  sided  witb  tbe  Con- 
federacy:   "Cotton  was  King."     Tbey  bad   Ikhmi 
struck  in  a  tender  place— tbeir  pockets  and  bank 
accounts.    But  suppose  England  bad  owned  Ore- 
gon and  its  great  interests,  wbo  don't  see  tbat  all 
tbe  danger  would  bave  been  multiplied,  and  our 
interests  endangered?    Tbere  is  in  tbis  no  extra v- 
agnnt  claim  made  tbat  all  tbis  was  done  bv  Marcus 
Wbitman.    Tbe  Kuler  of  tbe  Universe  u'ses  men, 
not  a  man,  for  its  direction  and  government. 

Going  back  ui)on  tbe  pages  of  bistorv,  tbe  stu- 
(bMit  sees  Wbittier  in  bis  study,  and  listens  to  bis 
singing;  be  sees  Mrs.  Stowe  educating  wilb  Uncle 
Tom  in  bis  cabin;  \u^  uotes  (}{irris(m  forging 
tbumlerboKs  in  bis  l.ib(M-j,{(u-,  bo  sees  obi  (Jai.r 
aliel  Bailey  witb  bis  Na(i.»nal  Era;  be  sees  Sum- 
ner  fall  by  a  bludgeon  in  tbe  Senate;  be  bears  tbe 


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178         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

eloquent  tlninderings  of  Ilale  and  bluff  old  Ben 
Wade  and  biddings  and  Julian  and  Chase;  ho 
sees  LoA-ejoy  fall  by  the  hands  of  his  assassin;  he 
hears  tlie  guns  of  the  old  "fanatic"  John  Brown, 
as  he  began  "marching  on;"  he  sees  a  great  army 
marshahMl  for  the  contest  which  led  up  to  the 
election  of  the  "Martyr  Pr-  sident,"  and  the  crown- 
ing victories  which  redeemed  the  grandest  nation 
upon  which  the  sun  shines  from  the  curse  of 
human  slavery.  Giving  due  credit  to  all,  detract- 
ing no  single  honor  from  any  one  in  all  the  dis- 
tinguished galaxy  of  honored  names,  and  yet  the 
thoughtful  student  can  reach  but  one  conclusion, 
and  tliat  is,  that  in  the  timeliness  of  his  acts,  in  the 
heroism  with  which  they  were  carried  out,  in  the 
unselfishness  which  marked  every  step  of  tlie  way, 
and  in  the  wide-reaching  effects  of  his  work,  Dr. 
Marcus  Whitman,  as  a  man  and  patriot  and  na- 
tional benefactor,  was  exce]le<l  by  none. 

Such  unselfish  devotion,  sudi  obedience  to  the 
call  of  duty,  such  love  of  "the  fiag  that  makes  you 
free,"  such  heroism,  wldch  never  even  once  had  an 
<mtcropi)ing  of  personal  benefit,  will  forever  stand, 
when  fully  un<lerstood,  as  among  the  brightest 
and  mos*t  inspiring  pages  of  American  history. 

The  young  American  loves  to  read  of  Paul  Ke- 
vere.  He  dwells  w'.th  Ihrilling  interest  upon  the 
ride  of  the  boy  Archie  Gillespie,  who  saw  the  great 
dam  breaking,  and  at  the  risk  of  his  life  rode  down 


i'  f 


A  SUBJECT  FOR  A  GREAT  PAINTING.  179 

the  valley  of  the  Coueinau-h  to  Johnstown,  shout- 
ing, "Flee  for  your  lives,  the  flood,  the  flood !"  The 
people  fled  and  two  minutes  behind  the  boy  rolled 
the  mighty  flood  of  annihilation.  How  painter 
and  poet,  and  patriot,  lingers  over  the  ride  of  the' 
gallant  Sheridan  "from  Wincliester,  twenty  mil«vs 
away."  All  the  honor  is  deserved;  he  saved  an 
army  and  turned  a  defeat  into  victory. 

But  how  do  all  these  compare  with  the  ride  of 
Whitman?    It,  too,  was  a  ride  for  life  or  death 
Over  snow-capped  mountains,  along  ravines,  trav* 
eled  only  by  savage  beasts  and  savage  men     It 
was  a  plunge  through  icy  rivers,  tired,  hun.-i.v 
cold,  and  yet  he  rode  on  and  on,  until  h(.  stoodVe- 
fore  the  President,  four  thousand  mih^s   away' 
Let  us  hope  and  believe  that  tlie  time  will  come 
when  Whitman,  stan<ling  before  J»residont  Tyler 
and  Secretary  Webster,  in  bis  buckskin  breeches 
and  a  dress  as  we  have  shown,  which  was  nev<'r 
woven  in  loom,  will  be    ac^  subject  of  some  great 
painting.    It  would  be  graiully  historical  an<l  tell 
a  story  that  a  patriotic  pc(»plo  should  never  f(»rnvt 
Alice   Wellington    K.dlins  wnMe  the  followhi.- 
poem,  which  was  published  in  the  New  York  In" 
Jh'pendcmt,  and  wi.h^ly  coj,ied.     The  (^issell  Pul,- 
lishmg  ( \mipany  mad,*  it  (me  of  their  gems  in  their 
elegant  volun.e,  "K'epivsentative  Poeu.s  of  Liviuff 
Poe.8,»  and  kindly  consent  to  its  use  in  this  vol- 
ume: 


It 

if    I 


N..:l*l 


180 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


WHITMAN'S  RIDE. 


Listen,  my  children,  and  you  shall  hear 

Of  a  hero's  ride  that  saved  a  State. 

A  midnight  ride?    Nay,  child,  for  a  year 

He  rode  with  a  message  that  could  not  wait. 

Eighteen  hundred  and  forty-two; 

No  railroad  then  had  gone  crashing  through 

To  the  Western  coast;   not  a  telegraph  wire 

Had  guided  there  the  electric  fire; 

But  a  fire  burned  in  one  strong  man's  breast 

For  a  beacon  light.    You  shall  hear  the  rest. 

He  said  to  his  wife;  "At  the  Fort  to-day. 

At  Walla  Walla,  I  heard  them  say 

That  a  hundred  British  men  had  crossed 

The  mountains;  and  one  young,  ardent  priest 

Shouted,  'Hurrah  for  Oregon! 

The  Yankees  are  late  by  a  year  at  least!' 

They  must  know  this  at  once  at  Washington. 

Another  year,  and  all  would  be  lost. 

Someone  must  ride,  to  give  the  alarm 

Across  the  Continent;  untold  harm 

In  an  hour's  delay,  and  only  I 

Can  make  them  understand  how  or  why 

The  United  States  must  keep  Oregon!" 

Twenty-four  hours  he  stopped  to  think. 
To  think!    Nay  then,  i'  he  thought  at  all, 
He  thought  as  he  tightened  his  saddle-girth. 
One  tried  companion,  who  would  not  shrink 
From  the  worst  to  come,  with  a  mule  or  two 
To  carry  arms  and  supplies,  would  do. 
With  a  guide  as  far  as  Fort  Bont.    And  she, 
The  woman  of  proud,  heroic  worth, 
Who  must  part  from  him,  if  she  wept  at  all,- 
Wept  as  she  gathered  whatever  he 
Might  need  for  the  outfit  on  hta  way. 


WHITMAN'S  RIDE. 

Fame  for  the  man  who  rode  that  day 
Into  the  wilds  at  his  Country's  call; 
And  for  her  who  waited  for  him  a  year 
On  that  wild  Pacific  coast,  a  tear! 

Then  he  said  "Good-bye!"  and  with  firm-set  lips 

Silently  rode  from  his  cabin  door 

Just  as  the  sun  rose  over  the  tips 

Of  the  phantom  mountain  that  loomed  before 

The  woman  there  in  the  cabin  door. 

With  a  dread  at  her  heart  she  had  not  known 

When  she,  with  him.  had  dared  to  cross 

The  Great  Divide.    None  better  than  she 

Knew  what  the  terrible  ride  would  cost 

As  he  rode,  and  she  waited,  each  alone. 

Whether  all  were  gained  or  all  were  lost. 

No  message  of  either  gain  or  loss 

Could  reach  her;    never  a  greeting  stir 

Her  heart  with  sorrow  or  gladness;  he 

In  another  year  would  come  back  to  her 

If  all  went  well;   and  if  all  went  ill— 

Ah,  God!   could  even  her  courage  still 

The  pain  at  her  heart?    If  the  blinding  snow 

Were  his  winding-sheet,  she  would  never  know; 

If  the  Indian  arrow  pierced  his  side, 

She  would  never  know  whore  he  lay  and  died; 

If  the  icy  mountain  torrents  drowned 

His  cry  for  help,  she  would  hear  no  sound! 

Nay,  none  v^ould  hear,  save  God,  who  knew 

What  she  had  to  bear,  and  he  had  to  do. 

The  clattering  hoof-beats  died  away 

On  th(=  Walla  Walla.    Ah!  had  she  known 

They  would  echo  in  history  still  to-day 

As  they  echoed  then  from  her  heart  of  stone! 

He  had  left  the  valley.    The  mountains  mock 
Hi  •    oTning.    Behind  him,  broad  and  deep, 
The  C  )lumbla  meets  the  Pacific  tides; 
Be';ore  him— four  thousand  miles  before— 


181 


«l 


f* 


I  .t,i 


'  Kill 


It 
f 


I  hi 


'  I 


•Hi 


'  !J 


182        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

Four  thousand  miles  from  his  cabin  door, 
The  Potomac  meets  the  Atlantic,    On 
Over  the  trail  grown  rough  and  steep, 
Now  soft  on  the  snow,  now  loud  on  the  rock, 
Is  heard  the  tramp  of  his  steed  as  he  rides. 
The  United  States  must  keep  Oregon. 

It  was  October  when  he  left 

The  Walla  Walla,  though  little  heed 

Paid  he  to  the  season.    Ndy,  indeed, 

In  the  lonely  canyons  just  ahead, 

Little  mattered  it  what  the  almanac  said. 

He  heard  the  coyotes  bark;    but  they 

Are  harmlesb  creatures.    No  need  to  fear 

A  deadly  rattlesnake  coiled  too  near. 

No  rattlesnake  ever  was  so  bereft 

Of  sense  as  to  creep  out  such  a  day 

In  the  frost.     Nay,  scarce  would  a  grizzly  care 

For  a  sniff  at  him.    Only  a  man  would  dare 

The  bitter  cold,  in  whose  heart  and  brain 

Burned  the  quenchless  flame  of  a  great  desire; 

A  man  with  nothing  himself  to  gain 

From  success,  but  whose  heart-blood  kept  its  fire 

While  with  freezing  face  he  rode  on  and  on. 

The  United  States  must  keep  Oregon. 

It  was  November  when  they  came 

To  the  icy  stream.    Would  he  hesitate? 

Not  he,  the  man  who  carried  a  State 

At  his  saddle  bow.    They  have  made  the  leap; 

Horse  and  rider  have  plunged  below 

The  icy  current  that  could  not  tamo 

Their  proud  life-current's  fiercer  fiow. 

They  swim  for  it,  reach  it,  clutch  the  shore, 

Climb  the  river  bank,  cold  and  steep, 

Mount,  and  ride  the  rest  of  that  day, 

Cased  in  an  armor  close  and  fine 

As  ever  an  ancient  warrior  wore; 

Armor  of  ice  that  dored  to  shine 


WHITMANS  RIDE. 

Back  at  a  sunbeam's  dazzling  ray, 
Fearless  as  plated  steel  of  old 
Before  that  slender  lance  of  gold. 

It  is  December  as  they  ride 

Slowly  across  the  Great  Divide; 

The  blinding  storm  turns  day  to  night, 

And  clogs  their  feet;  the  snowflakes  roll 

The  winding  sheet  about  them;   sight 

Is  darkened;    faint  the  despairing  soul. 

No  trail  before  or  behind  them.    Spur 

His  horse?    Nay,  child,  it  were  death  to  stir! 

Motionless  horse  and  rider  stand. 

Turning  to  stone;   till  one  poor  mule, 

Pricking  his  ears  as  if  to  say 

If  they  gave  him  rein  he  would  find  the  way. 

Found  it  and  led  them  back,  poor  fool, 

To  last  night's  camp  in  that  lonely  land. 

It  was  February  when  he  rode 

Into  St.  Louis.     The  gaping  crowd 

Gathered  about  him  with  questions  loud 

And  eager.     He  raised  one  frozen  hand 

With  a  gesture  of  silent,  proud  command; 

"I  am  here  to  ask,  not  answer!    Tell 

Me  quick,  is  the  Treaty  signed?"     "Why  yes! 

In  August,  six  months  ago  or  less!" 

Six  months  ago!    Two  months  before 

The  gay  young  priest  at  the  fortress  showed 

The  English  hand!     Two  months  before. 

Four  months  ago  at  his  cabin  door. 

He  had  saddled  his  horse!    Too  late  then.    "Well, 

But  Oregon?    Have  they  signed  the  State 

Away?"     "Ot  course  not.    Nobody  cares 

About  Oregon."     He  in  silence  bares 

His  head.    "Thank  God!    I  am  not  too  late." 

It  was  March  when  he  rode  at  last 
Into  the  streets  of  Washington. 


183 


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d^l 

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(     '■  * 

'■ 

r  * 


'ti». 


i 

1.  ?■ 

^^^^^^1 

1 

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RBI 

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■  ■•  i  ,  ; 

M 

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184         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

The  warning  questions  came  thick  and  fast; 

"Do  you  Itnow  that  the  British  will  colonize, 

If  you  wait  another  year,  Oregon 

And  the  Northwest,  thirty-six  times  the  size 

Of  Massachusetts?"    A  courteous  stare, 

And  the  Gcvernment  murmurs:    "Ah,  indeed! 

Pray,  why  do  you  think  that  we  should  care? 

With  Indian  arrows  and  mountain  snow 

Between  us,  we  never  can  colonize 

The  wild  Northwest  from  the  East  you  know, 

If  you  doubt  it,  why,  we  will  let  you  read 

The  London  Examiner;  proofs  enough 

The  North  A^est  is  worth  just  a  pinch  of  snuff." 

And  the  Board  of  Missions  that  sent  him  out. 

Gazed  at  the  worn  and  weary  man 

With  stern  displeasure.    "Pray,  sir,  who 

Gave  you  orders  to  undertake 

This  journey  hither,  or  to  incur 

Without  due  cause,  such  great  expense 

To  the  Board?    Do  you  suppose  we  can 

Overlook  so  grave  an  offense? 

And  the  Indian  converts?    What  about 

The  little  flock,  for  whose  precious  sake 

We  sent  you  West?    Can  it  be  that  you 

Left  them  without  a  shepherd?    Most 

Extraordinary  conduct,  sir, 

Thus  to  desert  your  chosen  post." 

Ah,  well!    What  mattered  it!    He  had  dared 
A  hundred  deaths,  in  his  eager  pride, 
To  bring  to  his  Country  at  Washington 
A  message,  for  which,  then,  no  one  cared! 
But  Whitman  could  act  as  well  as  ride. 
The  United  States  must  keeep  the  Northwest. 
He— whatever  might  say  the  rest- 
Cared,  and  would  colonize  Oregon! 

It  was  October,  forty-two. 

When  the  clattering  hoof-beats  died  away 


WHITMAN'S  RIDE. 

On  the  Walla  Walla,  that  fateful  day. 
It  was  September,  forty-three— 
liittle  le.ss  than  a  year,  you  see- 
When  the  woman  who  waited  thought  she  heard 
The  clatter  of  foot-beats  that  she  knew 
On  the  Walla  Walla  again.     "What  word 
From  Whitman?"    Whitman  himself!    And  see' 
What  do  her  glad  eyes  look  upon? 
The  first  of  two  hundred  wagons  rolls 
Into  the  valley  before  her.    He 
Who,  a  year  ago,  had  left  her  side, 
Had  brought  them  over  the  Great  Divide- 
Men,  women  and  children,  a  thousand  souls- 
The  army  to  occupy  Oregon. 

You  know  the  rest.    In  the  books  you  have  read 

Ihat  the  British  were  not  a  year  ahead. 

The  United  States  have  kept  Oregon, 

Because  of  one  Marcus  Whitman.     He 

Rode  eight  thousand  miles,  and  was  not  too  late! 

In  a  single  hand,  not  a  Nation's  fate. 

Perhaps;   but  a  gift  for  the  Nation,  she 

Would  hardly  part  with  it  to-day,  if  we 

May  believe  what  the  papers  say  upon 

This  great  Northwest,  that  was  Oregon. 


185 


•  '  1 

k' 

f  1     i 

1  ' 

''  1 

;,ri*   !! 


And  Whitman?   Ah!  my  children,  he 

And  his  wife  sleep  now  in  a  martyr's  grave! 

Murdered!    Murdered,  both  he  and  she, 

By  the  Indian  souls  they  went  West  to  save! 


I  "4 
"ti 


f*l 


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CHAPTER  IX. 


THE  CHANGE  IN  PUBLIC  SENTIMENT. 


The  reader  of  history  seldom  sees  a  more  nota- 
ble instance  of  a  changed  public  sentiment,  than 
he  can  tind  in  the  authentic  records  dating  from 
March,  1843,  to  July,  1840.  If  the  epitome  sketch 
made  in  another  chapter  has  been  studied  the  con- 
ditions now  to  be  observed  are  phenomenal. 
Statesman  after  statesman  puts  himself  on  record. 
You  hear  no  more  of  "No  wagon  road  to  Oregon," 
"That  weary,  desert  road,"  those  "Impassable 
mountains;"  nor  does  Mr.  McDuffie  jump  up  to 
"Thank  God  for  His  mercy,  for  the  impassable  bar- 
rier of  the  Rocky  Mountains."  No  Mr.  Benton 
arises  and  asks  that  "The  statue  of  the  fabled  God 
Terminus  should  be  erected  on  the  highest  peak, 
never  to  be  thrown  down."  Nor  does  Mr.  Jackson 
appeal  for  "A  compact  Government." 

Before  the  man  clothed  in  buckskin  left  the  Na- 
tional ('apital,  a  message  was  on  the  way  to  our 
Minister  to  England  proclaiming    "The    United 


THE  UPRISING  OF  THE  PEOPLE. 


187 


States  will  consout  to  o-ive  nothing-  below  the  lati- 
tude of  forty-nine  degrees."  When  it  was  known 
that  a  great  caravan  of  two  hundred  wagons  and 
one  thousand  Americans  had  started  for  Oregon, 
a  second  message  went  to  Minister  Everett  still 
more  pointed  and  positive,  "The  United  States  will 
never  consent  that  the  boundary  line  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean  shall  move  one  foot  below  the  latitude  of 
forty-nine  degrees."  It  is  a  historical  fact  that 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  of  the  wagons  went 
through. 

The  whole  people  began  to  talk,  as  well  as  to 
think  and  act.  They  had  suddenly  waked  up  to 
a  great  peril,  and  were  casting  about  how  to  meet 
it.  A  political  party  painted  upon  its  banners, 
"Oregon,  fifty-four  forty,  or  fight."  Multitudes  of 
those  now  living  remember  this  great  uprising  of 
the  people.  How  was  it  done?  Who  did  it? 
Was  it  a  spontaneous  move  without  a  reason? 
Intelligent  readers  can  scan  the  facts  of  history 
and  judge  for  themselves.  But  it  is  an  historical 
fact  there  was  a  remarkably  sudden  change. 

I»resident  Tyler,  and  his  great  Secretary,  Web- 
ster, during  the  balance  of  his  administration, 
used  all  the  arts  of  diplomacy,  and  seemed  to  make 
but  little  progress,  except  a  promise  of  a  Minister 
Plenipotentiary  to  treat  with  the  United  States. 
At  any  time  prior  to  the  arrival  of  Marcus  Whit- 
man in  W^ashington,  or  any  time  during  the  con- 


111   ■  ttif  a 


IN 


Ml, 


1 

! 

1 

■  i      i 

i 

; 

■1 

j 

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1 

i     'i 

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1 

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A, 

.188        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


ference  upon  the  Ashbnrton  Treaty,  had  the  Eng- 
lish (lipk)mats  i)r()p()se(l  to  rim  the  boundary  line 
upon  forty-nine  de<i;rees  until  it  struck  the  Colum- 
bia Kiver,  and  down  that  river  to  the  ocean,  there 
is  multiplied  evidence  that  the  United  States 
would  have  accepted  it  at  once. 

But  England  did  not  want  a  part,  she  wanted 
all.  During  the  negotiations  in  1827  as  to  the 
renewal  of  the  Treaty  of  1818,  her  commissioners 
stated  the  case  diplomatically,  thus;  "Great 
Britain  claims  no  exclusive  sovereignty  over  any 
portion  of  that  territory.  Her  present  claim  is  not 
in  respect  to  any  part,  but  to  the  whole  and  is  lim- 
ited to  a  right  of  Joint  occupancy  in  common  with 
other  States,  leaving  the  right  of  exclusive  domin- 
ion in  abeyance." 

Some  have  urged  that  this  was  a  give-away  an<l 
a  quit  claim  on  the  part  of  England,  but  at  most, 
it  is  only  the  language  of  diplomacy,  to  be  inter- 
preted by  the  acts  of  the  party  in  contest.  Those 
who  met  and  know  the  men  in  power  in  Oregon  in 
those  pioneer  days,  can  fully  attest  the  assertion 
of  the  Edinburgh  Review  in  cii.  artk'le  published 
in  1843,  after  Whitman's  vip'.  •  ^  ' .'  diingtoii.  It 
says:  "They  are  chiefly  Scotchmen,  and  a  greater 
proportion  of  shrewdness,  daring  and  commercial 
activity  is  probably  not  to  be  found  in  the  same 
number  of  heads  in  the  world."  They  made  their 
grand  mistake,  however,  that  while  being  true 


THE  MISTAKE  OF  THE  HUDSON  BAY  CO.  189 

Britons,  they  were  nudsoii  Bay  (N)nii)anj  men 
first  and  foremost,  and  were  anxious  to  Iceep  out 
all  inimij>ration.  None  better  knew  the  value  of 
Oregon  lands  for  the  purposes  of  the  aj^riculturist, 
than  those  "shrewd  old  Scotchmen"  did. 

About  every  tradinjr  post    they    had    cleared 
farms,  planted  orchards  and  vineyards,  and  tested 
all  kinds  of  grains.    Mrs.  Whitman,  in  her  diary 
of  September  14th,  183fi,  speaking  of  lier  visit  to 
Fort  Vancouver,  says,  "We  were  invited  to  see  the 
farm.     We  rode  for  fifteen  miles  during  the  after- 
noon and  visited  the  farms  and  stock,  v4,c.     They 
estimate  their  wheat  crop  this  year  at  four  thou- 
sand bushels,  peas  the  same,  oats  and  barley  fif- 
teen and  seventeen  hundred  bushels  each.     The 
potato  and  turnip  fields  are  large  and  fine.     Their 
cattle  are  large  and  fine  and  estimated  at  one 
thousand  head.     They  have   swine  in  abundance, 
also  sheep  and  goats,  but  the  sheep  are  of  an  in- 
ferior quality.     We  also  find  hens,  turkeys  and 
pigeons,  but  no  geese.     Every  day  we  have  some- 
thing new.     The  store-houses  are  filled  from  top  to 
bottom  with  unbroken  bales  of  goods,  made  up 
of  every  article  of  comfort." 
She  tells  of  "A  new  and  improved  method  of 
ream"    for    butter-making,    and    "The 
abundant  supply  of  the  best  cheese." 
^^  In  another  note  she  gives  the  menu  for  dinner. 
"First,  we  are  treated  to  soup,  which  is  very  good, 


raising 


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190        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

u.arle  of  al]  kinds  of  vo.uvtabics,  with  a  littlo  rifo. 
Tomat  <»s  an-  a  prominent  vo^>otal)le.  After  sou]) 
the  (lisli'^s  are  renH)ve(l  and  roast  dnek,  i)ork, 
tripe,  fish,  salmon  or  stiirocon,  with  otlier  tilings 
too  tedious  to  mention.  Wlien  tliese  are  removed 
a  rice  puddinp;  or  apple  pie  is  served  with  musk 
melons,  cheese,  biscuits  and  wine." 

Shrewd  Scotsmen!  And  yet  this  is  the  country 
whicli  for  years  thereafter  American  statesmen 
dci'lared  "A  d(»sert  waste,"  "IJutit  for  the  habita- 
tion of  civilised  society,"  and  from  which  our  ora- 
tors thanked  Heaven  they  were  "separated  by  in- 
surmountable barriers  of  mountains,"  and  "im- 
passable deserts."  We  repeat,  none  better  knew 
the  value  of  Oregon  soil  for  th(»  purposes  of  ajj;ri- 
culture,  than  did  these  ]>rincely  retainers  of  Eng- 
land, and  they  well  knew,  that  when  agriculture 
and  civilizalion  .uaiued  a  foothold,  both  they  and 
their  savaiie  relainers  would  be  compelled  to  move 
(Ui.  They  held  a  b(manza  of  wealth  in  their  hands, 
in  a  land  of  Arcadia,  which  they  ruled  to  suit  them- 
selves. 

It  is  not  al  all  str,(nfj;e  that  they  made  the  fljjjht 
thev  di<l:    tliev  had  in  lS:i(»  feared  th(>  advent  of 

•  '  • 

Dr.  Whitman's  old  waL-on,  more  than  an  army 
with  banners.  Tliey  had  tried  in  every  way  in 
their  power,  excei)t  by  absolute  force,  to  arrest  its 
proi^ress.  Th<\v  foresaw  that  ev<»ry  turn  of  its 
wheels  ui)ou  Orejjou  soil  endangered  fur.    Those 


i!  lP>. 


THE  PERILS  MAGNIFIED.  191 

in  command  at  Port  Hall  and  Fort  Hoise  were 
waniod  to  be  more  watchful.  The  conscfiucnce 
was  that  not  another  wheel  was  permitted  to  j.o 
bojond  those  forts,  from  1S3()  to  I84;j.  Dr.  lOd- 
wards,  however,  n^ports  that  "Dr.  Robert  Newell 
.brought  three  wagons  through  to  Walla  Walla  in 
1840." 

But  the  fact  remains  that  wagon  after  wagon 
was  abandoi    ..  at  those  points  and  the  things 
necossai-.y  for  the  comfort  of  the  immigrant  were 
sacrificed,  and   men,  women   and   children  were 
compelled  to  take  to  the  pack-saddle,  or  journey 
the  balance    of  the  weary  way  on  foot.       (Jreat 
stress  was  laid  at  these  points  of  entrance,  upon 
the  dangers  of  the  r<,ute  to  Oregon,  and  the  com- 
IHU-ative  ease  and  comfort  of  the  journey  to  (^ali- 
foniia.     Hundreds  were  thus  induced  to  give  up 
the  journey   to  Oregon,   in    making  which   they 
w(mld  be  forced  to  aband.m  their    wagons    anil 
.ii()o<ls,  an<l  they  turned  their  faces  toward  Cali- 
fornia. 

OcMieral  PalnuT,  in  speaking  of  this,  savs: 
^^  !nle  a(  F(u-t  Hall  in  1842,  t\w  perils  of  (i,,'  way 
lo  Oreg<m  were  so  magnified  as  to  make  us  suppose 
the  j<Hirney  thither  was  imj>ossil,lo.  They  repre- 
N«Mif(Ml  the  dangers  in  passing  over  Snake  River 
and  the  ('(dumbia  as  very  great.  That  but  little 
H<ock  ha.l  ever  crossed  those  streams  in  safety 
And  more  and  worst  of  all,  they  represented  that 


h:-^ 


^' f 


;        i 


11 

f«      ! 

^   '1^   !• 

I  , 

■i  1     ' 

^  , 

m 

% 

m 

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192 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


|,i4^»h|; 


three  or  four  tribes  of  Indians  alonpj  the  route  had 
combined  to  resist  all  immigration."  They  repre- 
sented that,  "Famine  and  the  snows  of  Winter 
would  overtake  all  with  destruction,  before  they 
could  reach  Oregon." 

They  did  succeed  in  scaring  this  band  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty-seven  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren in  1842  into  leaving  all  their  wagons  behind, 
but  they  went  on  to  Oregon  on  pack-saddles. 

In  the  meantime  they  ran  a  literary  bureau 
for  all  it  was  worth,  in  the  disparagement  of  Ore- 
gon for  all  purposes  except  those  of  tlie  fur  trader. 
The  English  press  was  mainly  depended  uiMm  for 
this  work,  but  the  best  means  in  reach  were  used 
til  at  all  these  statements  should  reach  the  ruling 
powers  and  reading  people  of  the  United  States. 

The  effect  of  this  literary  bureau  upon  Ameri- 
can statesmen  and  the  most  intelligent  class  of 
readers  prior  to  the  Spring  of  1843,  is  easily  seen 
by  the  sentiiiumts  cpioted,  and  by  their  publishe<l 
acts,  in  refusing  to  legislate  for  Oregon.  Modern 
historians  have  said  that,  "The  Hudson  Bay  Com- 
pany and  the  English  never  at  any  time  claimed 
anything  south  of  the  Columbia  Kiver."  Such  a 
slatement  can  nowhere  be  proved  from  any  of- 
ticial  record;  on  the  contrary,  there  are  multijilieil 
(»x])r(»ssions  and  acts  ])i'(tving  the  opposite. 

As  early  as  the  year  18LIS,  the  Hudson  Bay  (Nuu- 
pany  saw  the  value  of  the  Falls  of  the  Willamette 


I   !■ 


GOVERNOR  SIMPSON'S  PLAN.  193 

at  Oregon  City  for  nuaniifacturing  purposes,  and 
took  possession  of  the  same;   as  Governor  Simp- 
sou  in  rommand  of  the  Company  said,  "To  estab- 
lish a  British  Colony  of  their  retired  servants  " 
"Governor  Simpson,"  says  Dr.  Eells  in  his  "History 
of  Indian  Missions,'»"said  in  1841  that  the  eoh,nists 
in  the  Willamette  Valley  were  British  subjects 
and  that  the  English  had  no  rivals  cm  the  eoast 
but  Russia,  and  that  the  United  States  will  never 
possess  more  than  a  nominal  jurisdiction,  nor  will 
long  possess  even  that,  on  the  west  side  „f  th.> 
IJocky  Mountains."     And  he   addcMl,    "Supposin'r 
the  country  to  be  divided  to-morrow  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  the  most  unscrupulous  i)atriot  in 
the  Union,  I  challenge  conqr.est  to  bring  mv  pro- 
diction  and  its  (»wu  i)ower  to  the  test  bv  imposin- 
the  Atlantic  tarilt  on  t  he  ports  of  the  l»acilic." 

Such  sentiments  froui  the  Governor,  the  man 
then  in  sujireme  power,  who  mouhhMl  and  directed 
English  sentiments,  is  of  <loep  siguKicauce.  \ 
man  only  second  in  influence  to  Governor  Simp- 
s(m  and  even  a  much  broa.h'r  aud  braiuler  nmn. 
Dr.  John  McL<mghlin,  Factor  of  the  C.unpauv, 
"said  to  me  in  ISI2,"  says  Dr.  Eells,  "thai  In  lif|"y 
.rears  the  whole  country  will  be  lilled  will,  iho  d«'. 
Hcendants  of  the  Hudson  Bay  (^>uipanv."  But 
whil(>  they  believed,  just  as  the  Amerirau  imu.i. 
gninis  .lid,  that  as  a  result  of  the  Treaty  of  ISIS- 
-'N,  Hie  country  would  b.'huig  to  tho  nathuiality  set- 


« 4  1  s       * 


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« » .1  *' 


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194        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

tlinjif  it;  yet  ihoy  had  so  Ion*;'  held  supronio  power 
that  they  were  sh)w  to  thiuk  that  such  power  was 
soon  to  pass  from  them. 

That  the  diplomacy  of  tiie  home  GoveriiiiK'nt, 
the  bohl  methods  and  "The  shrewdness,  darincr 
and  commercial  activity  in  the  heads"  of  the  K\d- 
ers,  that  the  Edinburoh  Keview  pictures,  were 
all  to  be  thwarted  and  that  speedily,  had  not  en- 
tered into  their  calculations,  and  they  did  not 
awake  to  a  sense  of  the  real  danger  until  tiiose 
hundred  and  twenty-live  wagons,  loaded  with  live 
Americans  and  their  hous<'hold  j^oods,  rolled  down 
the  nnmntain  sides  and  into  the  N^aUev  of  the  Wil- 
lamette  on  that  memorable  October  day,  IH^'X 

Tt  was  America's  ])rotest,  made  in  an  American 
fashicm.  Tt  settled  the  <iuestion  of  American  in- 
terests as  far  as  Americans  could  settle  it  under 
the  terms  of  the  Tr(»atv  of  181S,  as  thev  under- 
stood  it. 

Under  tlu'  full  belief  (hat  Whitman  would 
brinji'  wi(h  hiui  a  Iaro(»  delectation,  the  Americans 
met  and  orj^anized  before  he  reached  Orejjfon. 
And  when  the  Whituian  caravan  arrived,  they  out- 
numbered the  10u«;lish  and  Canadian  forces  three 
to  one;  and  the  Slars  and  Slriju's  were  run  up, 
never  a^ain  to  be  hauled  down  by  any  foreij;u 
jjower  in  all  the  wide  domain  of  Oregon. 

True,  jhere  was  yet  a  bailie  h)  be  fouj-IH.  The 
interests  at  stake  were  ioo  ^rand  for  (he  i»artv 


PRESIDENT  POLK'S  MESSAGE.  195 

Who  hold  supremo  powc^r  so  hmg  to  .yield  without  a 
contest.  But  there  wen-  ruo-e,],  brave,  intelli- 
gent American  citizens  now  in  Oregon,  and  there 
to  stay.  They  had  llood^Ml  home  people  with  letters 
describing  the  salubrity  or  l.v  climate  and  the 
fertility  of  the  soil.     Statesmen  heard  of  it. 

i^udden  conversions  sometimes  make  unrea- 
sonable converts.  The  very  men  who  had  rung 
the  changes  upon  "worthless,"  "barren,"  "cut  off 
ky  impassable  deserts,"  now  turned  and  not  only 
claimed  the  legitimate  territory  up  to  fortv-nine 
degrees,  but  made  demands  which  were  heard 
across  the  Atlantic.  We  will  have  "Oregon  an<l 
fifty-four  forty,  or  fiohj." 

In  a  lengthy  message  in  December,  1845,  Presi- 
dent Polk  devotes  nearly  one-fifth  of  his  space  to 
the  discussion  of  the  Oregon  question,  and    re- 
hearses th(.  discussion  pro  and  con  between  the 
two  govcu'iiments  and  acknowledo-es,    that    thus 
iar  tlHU'e  has  been  absolute  failure.    II(^  tells  Con- 
gress that  "The  i)roi»ositi<m  of  compromise,  which 
was  imHhMnul  reJe.nMl,  was,  by  my  onh^r,  subse- 
I^Mitly  withdraw,.,  an.l  our  title  up  to  5-1  (U'giT(>s 
40  n„„„tes  ass(M-ted,  and,  as  it  is  believed,  main- 
tained by  irrefragable  facts  and  arguments."     In 
hat  message,  Pivsident  Polk  argU(Ml  in  favor  of 
terminating  tlu^  joint  occupancy  by  oivino-    the 
stipulated  notice,  an<l  that  the  juris<li,.(ion  of  the 
tinted  States  be  extended  over  the  entire  terri- 


fi^l 


if  ^■ 


I-     i!. 


«:  . 


Ijl^^Jill 


'  Ktlt 
•      III 


1 


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1 

196        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


tory,  with  a  line  of  military  posts  along  the  entire 
frontier  to  the  Pacific. 

It  all  seemed  warlike.  The  withdrawing  of  "the 
joint  occupancy,"  many  statesmen  believed  would 
precipitate  a  war.  Senator  Crittenden  and  others 
bt^lieved  such  to  be  the  case.  War  seemed  inevi- 
table. Even  Senator  McDuffle,  whom  we  have  be- 
fore quoted,  as  unwilling  to  "Give  a  pinch  of  snuff 
for  all  the  territory  beyond  the  Kockies,"  now  is 
on  record  saying,  "Rather  make  that  territory  the 
sirave  of  Americans,  and  color  the  soil  with  their 
blood,  tlmn  to  surrender  one  inch."  While  it  was 
oeuerallv  conceded  that  we  would  have  a  war,  yet 
there  were  wise,  co(d -headed  men  in  the  Halls  of 
National  Legislation,  determined  to  avert  such 
disaster  if  possible,  without  sacrificing  National 
honor. 

The  debate  on  giving  legal  notice  to  cancel  the 
Treaty  of  1818,  as  to  joint  occui)ancy,  was  the  ab- 
sorbing theme  of  Congress,  and  lasted  for  forty 
days  before  reaching  a  vote,  and  then  passed  by 
the  great  majority  of  100. 

Rut  the  Senate  was  more  conservative,  and  con- 
tinued the  debate  after  the  measure  had  passed 
the  House  by  such  an  overwhelming  majority. 
They  saw  the  whole  Country  already  in  a  half 
paralyzed  condition.  Its  business  had  decreased, 
its  capital  was  withdrawn  from  active  participa- 
tion in  business,  and  its  vessels  stood  empty  at  the 


|!T! 


(    *( 


THE  DEBATE  IN  THE  SENATE. 


197 


wharves  of  ports  of  entry.  Such  statesmen  as 
Crittenden  iiM  others  who  had  not  hurried  to  get 
in  front  of  the  excited  people,  now  saw  the  neces- 
sity for  decided  action  to  avert  war  and  secure 
peace.  To  brave  public  opinion  and  antagonize 
the  Lower  House  of  Congress  required  the  largest 
courage. 

Mr.  Crittenden  said,  "I  believe  yet,  a  majority 
is  still  in  favor  of  preserving  the  peace,  if  it  can 
be  done  without  dishonor.  They  favor  the  set- 
tling of  the  questions  in  dispute  peaceably  and 
honorably,  to  compromise  by  negotiations  and  ar- 
bitration, or  some  other  mode  known  and  recog- 
nized among  nations  as  suitable  and  proper  and 
honorable." 

Mr.  Webster  had  been  too  severely  chastised  by 
both  friends  and  enemies  for  his  part  in  the  Ash'- 
burton  Treaty,  to  make  him  anxious  to  be  promi- 
nent in  the  discussion  in  the  earlier  w^eeks,  but 
when  he  did  speak  he  pointed  out  the  very  road 
which  the  Nation  would  travel  in  its  way  for 
peace,  viz.:  a  compromise  upon  latitude  forty-nine. 
Webster  said,  "In  my  opinion  it  is  not  the  judg- 
ment of  this  country,  nor  the  judgment  of  the  Sen- 
ate, that  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
should  run  the  hazard  of  a  war  for  Oregon  by  re- 
nouncing, as  no  longer  fit  for  consideration,  the 
proposition  of  adjustment  made  by  this  Govern- 
ment thirty  years  ago  and  repeated  in  the  face  of 


Sit   ? 


1  '  : !  i 


'  .  »i  :  ■  ! 

^ff*     '  ^ 

"     'I! 
Hi 

' 

■  J  ^  .t    ■ 

i 
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i 

.2m. 

198        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


the  world."  ITis  great  speech,  which  extended 
through  the  sessions  of  two  days,  was  a  masterly 
defense  and  explanation  of  the  Ashburton-Web- 
ster  Treaty,  which  was  signed  three  years  before. 
No  American  statesman  of  the  time  had  so  full 
and  complete  a  knowledge  of  the  questions  at  issue 
as  had  ^Yebster.  He  had  canvassed  every  one  of 
them  in  all  their  bearings  with  the  shrewdest  Eng- 
lish diplomats  and  had  nothing  to  learn.  His 
great  speech  can  be  marked  as  the  turning  point 
in  the  discussion,  and  the  friends  of  peace  took 
fresh  courage. 

'  The  first  and  ablest  aid  Mr.  Webster  received 
was  from  Calhoun,  then  second  to  none  in  his  in- 
fluence. In  his  speech  he  said,  "What  has  trans- 
pired here  and  in  England  within  the  last  three 
months  must,  I  think,  show  that  the  public  opinion 
in  both  countries  is  coming  to  a  conclusion  that 
this  controversy  ought  to  be  settled,  and  is  n 
very  diverse  in  the  one  country  or  the  other,  as  t( 
the  general  basis  of  such  settlement.  That  basis 
is  the  offer  made  by  the  United  States  to  England 
in  1820." 

It  mav  here  be  observed  that  President  Monroe 
offered  to  comi)romise  on  forty-nine  degrees.  Presi- 
dent Adams  did  the  same  in  1820,  while  President 
Tyler,  in  the  year  of  \\'hitman's  visit  (1843),  again 
offered  the  same  compromise,  and  England  had 


THE  SENATE  ACTS. 


lf»0 


rcjectod  each  and  all.  She  expected  a  much 
lariicr  slice. 

(len.  Cass  followed  Calhoun  in  a  fiery  war 
speech,  which  called  out  the  applause  of  the  mnlti- 
tiide,  in  which  he  claimed  thai  the  United  States 
owne,^  the  territory  \\\)  to  the  Russian  line  of  H-t 
decrees  40  minutes  and  he  "Would  press  the  claim 
at  the  peril  of  war." 

Dayton  and  other  Senators  asked  that  present 
conditions  be  maintained,  and  that  "The  people 
of  the  United  States  meet  tlreat  Britain  by  a  prac- 
tical adoption  of  her  own  doctrine,  that  the  title 
of  the  country  should  pass  to  those  who  occupied 
it." 

This  latter  view  was  the  pioneer  view  of  the 
situation,  and  which  was  so  fully  believed  as  to 
cause  the  memorable  ride  of  Whitman  in  mid-win- 
ter from  Oregon  to  Washinofon.  The  resolution 
of  notice  to  the  English  Government,  as  we  have 
seen,  passed  the  House  Feb.  0,  IS-ld,  and  came  to  a 
vote  and  i)assed  the  Senate  April  2;}(^,  by  42  to  10. 
It,  however,  contained  two  important  amendments 
to  the  House  resolution,  both  suggestive  of  C(uu- 
promise.  And  as  the  President  was  allowed  "At 
his  discretion  to  serve  the  notice,"  the  act  was 
shorn  of  much  of  its  warlike  meaning. 

When  it  is  remembered  that  the  l»resident*s 
message  and  recommendations  were  made  on  the 
2d  of  December,  184;"),  and  I  he  (piestion  had  ab- 


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200 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


sorbed  tlie  attention  of  Congress  until  April  23, 
1840,  before  final  action,  it  can  be  marked  as  one 
of  the  most  memorable  discussions  that  has  ever 
occurred  in  our  Halls  of  National  Legislation. 

It  had  now  been  three  years  since  Whitman  had 
made  his  protest  to  President  Tyler  and  his  Secre- 
tary; a  id  while  Congress  had  debated  and  the 
whole  Nation  was  at  a  white  heat  of  interest,  the 
old  pioneers  had  gone  on  settling  the  question  in 
their  own  way  by  taking  possession  of  the  land, 
building  themselves  homes,  erecting  a  State 
House,  and,  although  four  thousand  miles  distant 
from  the  National  Capital,  enacting  laws,  in  kcn^p- 
ing  with  American  teachings,  and  demeaning 
themselves  as  became  good  citizens.  Love  of  coun- 
try, with  sacrifices"  made  to  do  honor  to  the  flag, 
has  seldom  had  a  more  beautiful  and  impressive 
illustration  than  that  given  by  tlie  old  pioneers  of 
Oregon  during  the  years  of  their  neglect  by  the 
home  Government,  which  even  seemed  so  far  dis- 
tant that  it  had  lost  all  interest  in  their  welfare. 


:1       i'lM 


'      i 


I        '-H 


CHAPTER  X. 


THE  FAILURE  OF  MODERN   HISTORY  TO  DO  JUSTICE 
TO  DR.  WHITMAN. 


Says  an  old  author:  '^listory  is  a  river  increas- 
ing in  volume  with  every  mile  of  its  length,  and  the 
tributaries  that  join  it  nearer  and  nearer  the  sea 
are  taken  up  and  swept  ouAvard  by  a  current  that 
grows  ever  mightier."  Napoleon  said:  "History 
IS  a  fable  agreed  upon."  U  Napoleon  could  have 
looked  downward  to  the  closing  years  of  this  cen- 
tury  and  seen  the  genius  of  the  literary  world 
striving  to  do  him  honor,  he  would  perhaps  have 
modified  the  sentiment. 

History,  at  its  best,  is  a  collection  of  biographies 
of  the  world^s  great  leaders,  and  is  best  studied 
in  biography.  To  be  of  value,  it  must  be  accu- 
rate. Scarcely  has  any  great  leader  escaped  from 
tlie  stings  of  history,  but  it  is  well  to  know  an.l 
believe  that  time  will  correct  the  wrong  The 
case  of  Dr.  Whitman  is  peculiar  in  the  fact  that 
all  his  contemporaries  united  in  doing  him  honor, 


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202         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

save  and  except  one,  Bishop  Brouillet.  The  men 
who  knew  the  value  of  his  work  and  his  eminent 
services,  snch  as  Gray,  Keed,  Simpson,  Barrows, 
and  Parkman;  the  correspondence  of  Spahling, 
Lovejoy,  Eells,  and  the  Lees,  have  made  the  record 
clear. 

It  has  been  reserved  for  modern  historians  of 
that  class  who  have  just  discovered  the  "Mistakes 
of   Moses,"   and   that   Shakespeare   never   Avrote 
Shakespeare's  plays,  to  indulge  in  sneers  and  scoffs 
and  to  falsify  the  record.     It  is  not  the  intention 
to  attempt  to  reply  to  all  these,  but  we  shall  notice 
the  fallacies  of  two  or  three.     In  a  recent  edition 
of  the  history  of  the  Lewis  and  Clarke  Expedition, 
published  by  F.  P.  Harper,  New  York,  and  edited 
by  Dr.  Elliott  Coues,  a  most  entertaining  volume, 
and  yet  wholly  misleading  as  to  the  final  issue 
which  resulted  in  Oregon  becoming  a  part  of  the 
Republic,  Dr.  Coues  in  his  dedication  of  the  vol- 
ume says: 

"To  the  people  of  the  great  West:  Jefferson 
gave  you  the  country.  Lewis  and  Clarke  showed 
you  the  way.  The  rest  is  your  own  course  of  em- 
pire. Honor  th(»  statesman  who  foresaw  your 
West.  Honor  the  br.'ive  men  who  first  saw  your 
West.  May  the  memory  of  their  glorious  achieve- 
ment be  your  precious  heritage.  Accept  from  my 
heart  this  undying  record  of  the  beginning  of  all 
your  greatness.     '  ELLIOTT  COUES." 


■  LEWIS  AND  CLARKE  NOT  DISCOVERERS.  203 

All  honor  to  Jefferson,  the  far-siohted  states- 
man; and  a  like  honor  to  the  courageous  explor- 
ers, Lewis  and  Clarke;   but  the  writer  of  history 
should  be  true  to  facts.    Lewis  and  Clarke  were 
not  "The  first  men  who  saw  your  West."     TIk'v 
were  not  the  discoverers  of  Oregon.     Old  Captain 
Gray  did  that  a  dozen  years  prior  to  the  visit  of 
Lewis  and  Clarke.    A  writer  of  true  history  should 
not  have  blinded  his  eyes  to  that  fact  on  his 
dedicatory  page.     Captain  Gray  sailed  into  the 
moutli  of  the  Columbia  River  on  his  good  ship 
ColumI)ia,  from  Boston,  on  May  7th,  1792.     The 
great  river  was  named  for  his  vessel.     This   to- 
gether with  the  titlegained  by  the  Louisiana  pur- 
chase in  1803,  and  the  treaty  with  Spain  an<l 
Mexico,  more  fully  recited   in   another  chapter, 
made  the  claim  of  the  United  States  to  ownership 
in  the  soil  of  Oregon. 

The  mission  of  Lewis  and  Clarke  was  not  that  of 
discoverers,  but  to  spy  out  and  report  upon  the 
value  of  the  discovery  already  made.  Their  work 
required  rare  courage,  and'  was  accomplished  with 
such  intelligence  as  to  make  them  heroes,  ami  botii 
were  rewarded  with  fat  offices;  one  as  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Louisiana,  and  the  other  as  General  Com- 
missioner of  Indian  Affairs;  and  both  were  given 
large  land  grants.  We  have  not  been  able  to  see 
in  any  of  Dr.  Cones'  full  notes  any  explanation  of 
such  facts,  but  even  if  he  has  given  such  explana- 


■'j  ■  ''•<-  i 


i 

I 


I 


41 


if   ^ 


'      1      ' 
1                ' 

t 

Ml 


m 


II 


204         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

tion,  he  Lad  no  right,  as  a  truthful  chronicler  of 
history,  to  mislead  the  reader  bv  his  highly  ornate 
dedicatory:  "JefPerson  gave  you  the  country, 
Lewis  and  Clarke  showed  you  the  way." 

President  Jefferson  was  much  more  of  a  seer 
and  statesman  than  were  his  compeers.  The 
Louisiana  purchase,  to  him,  was  much  more  than 
gaining  possession  of  the  State  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Mississippi  River,  with  its  rich  acres  for  the 
use  of  slave-owners  of  the  South.  In  his  later 
years  he  said:  "I  looked  forward  with  gratification 
to  the  time  when  the  descendants  of  the  settlers  of 
Oregon  Avould  spread  themselves  through  the 
Avhole  length  of  the  coast,  covering  it  with  fr<M', 
independent  Americans,  unconnected  with  us  but 
by  the  tics  of  blood  and  interest,  and  enjoying, 
like  us,  the  rights  of  self-government." 

If  the  old  statesman  could  view  the  scene  and 
the  condition  now,  how  much  grander  woiihl  be 
the  view!  It  would  be  unjust  to  question  (h<'  in- 
terest ol  President  Jeirerst)n  in  the  Northwt'st 
Territory;  the  great  misfortune  was,  that  (he 
statesmen  of  his  day  were  almost  Avholly  oblivious 
to  his  appeals.  The  report  ma<le  by  the  Lewis 
and  Clarke  expedition  was  stuffed  into  a  pigeon 
h(de,  and  was  not  even  publislied  until  eight  years 
after  the  exploration,  and  after  one  of  the  exi)lor- 
ers  was  dead.  It  was  not  received  with  n  single 
ripple  of  enthusiasm  by  Congress  or  the  i)eoi)le  of 


WHITMAN'S  DEFAMERS.  205 

the  Nation.  The  Government,  on  the  contrary, 
fourteen  years  after  the  advent  of  Lewis  and  Clarke 
in  Oregon,  entered  into  a  treaty  witli  Enoland, 
which  virtually  gave  the  English  people  the  con- 
trol of  the  entire  country  for  more  tlian  the  first 
third  of  the  century.  The  most  that  can  be  said 
of  Lewis  and  Clarke  is  that  they  were  faithful  ex- 
plorers, who  blazed  the  way  \vhich  Americans 
failed  to  travel,  until,  in  the  fullness  of  time,  a 
man  appeared  who  led  the  way  and  millions  fol- 
lowed. 

Among  the  most  pointed  defamers  of  Dr.  \A'hit- 
man  is  Mrs.  Frances  F.  Victor,  of  Oregon,  author 
of  "The  Kiver  of  the  West,"  who  seldom  loses  an 
opportunity  to  attempt  to  belittle  the  nmn  and 
his  work.     In  a  communication  to  the  Chicago 
Inter  Ocean,  she  openly  charges  that  his  journey 
to  Washington  in  the  winter  of  1842  and  '43  was 
wholly  for  selfish  interests.     Hhe  charges  that  he 
was  about  to  be  removed  from  his  Mission  and 
wanted  to  present  his  case  before  the  American 
I^)ard.     That  he  wanted  his  Mission  as  "A  stop- 
ping place  for  immigrants."     In  other  words,  it 
was  for  personal  and  pecuniary  gain  that  he  made 
the  perilous  ride.     We  (pu.te  her  exact  hnignage: 
"That   there   was   considerable   practical    self- 
interest  in  his  desire  to  be  left  to  manage  the  Mis- 
Hion  as  he  thonght  best,  there  can  be  no  (luestion. 
It  was  not  for  the  Indians,  altogether,  he  wished 


'■»   Li 
. «»  •  I  j 


ill. 


if 

ill 


Ml 


'  >j  i  ill 


ifl 


206 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


to  remain.  TTo  foresaw  the  wealth  and  impor- 
tance of  the  country  and  that  his  phice  must  be- 
come a  supply  station  to  the  annual  emigrations. 
Instead  of  making  high-comedy  speeches  to  the 
President  and  KSecrotary  of  State,  lie  talked  with 
them  about  the  Indians,  and  what  would,  in  his 
o])inion,  be  the  best  thing  to  be  done  for  them  and 
for  the  white  settlers.  His  visit  was  owing  to 
the  necessity  that  existed  of  explaining  to  the 
r.oard  better  than  he  could  by  letter,  and  more 
quickly,  his  reasons  for  wishing  to  remain  at  his 
station,  and  to  convince  them  it  was  for  the  best."* 
Says  Mrs.  Mctor:  "The  Missionaries  all  believed 
that  the  United  States  would  fimilly  secure  a  title 
to  at  least  that  portion  of  Oregon  south  of  the 
Odumbia  Kiver,  out  of  whose  rich  lands  they 
would  be  given  large  tracts  by  the  (Jovernment, 
and  that  was  reason  enowgh  for  the  loyalty  exhib- 
ited." 

She  openly  charges  that  "Dr.  Whitman  acted 
d<'ceitfully  towai'd  all  the  «)ther  mend)ers  of  the 
Mission."  If  such  were  true,  is  it  not  strange  that 
in  all  the  years  that  f»)llowed  every  man  and  wo- 
man among  them  were  his  staunchest  and  truest 
friends  and  most  valiant  defenders?  She  ])ro- 
ceeds  (o  call  Whitman  "Ignorant  and  conceited  to 
believe  that  he  influenced  Secretary  Webster." 
That  the  story  of  his  suffering,  frostdutten  condi- 
tion was  false.    "He  was  not  frost  bitten,  or  he 


\ 


WHITMAN'S  DEFAMERS. 

would   have  been   incapaeitated   to   travel" 


Mrs.  Victor  makes  a  i-rave  eli 


207 


etc. 


iirge  against  ^Vllit• 


man.     She  says:    "lie  got   well-to-do  by  sellin 
flour  and  grain  and  vegetables  to 


hiuh 


imniigrants  at 


gli  prices."     Now,  let  us  allow  Dr.  Spalding  to 
answer  this  calumny.     He  knew  ^^'hit 
work  as  well,  or  better  th 
Spalding  savs: 


man  and  his 
an  any  other  man.     Dr. 


u 


1mm 


liii 


reached  the 


ants, 
ission 


hundreds    and     th 


ousands. 


destitute,  but  he  cared  f 


,  way-worn,  hungry,  sick,  and 


'or  all.     Seven   childi 


of  on<'  fauiily  were  left  upon  the  hands  of  I 


Mrs.  Whitmj'. 


■en 


)r.  and 


n— one  a  babe  four  monti 


is  old — and 


they  cared  for  them  all,  giviug  fo(Ml,  clothing,  and 
medicine  without  pay.  FiHMpuMitly,  the  Docf.r 
would 


live 


nvay  his  entire  food  sup])ly,  and  1 


to  send  to  me  f(U'  grain  t(»  get  through  the  \V 


lave 


SI 


ic  jxuntedly  tlenies  that  Dr.   Whil 


niter, 


to  Washington  or  the  States  with  the 
of  bringing  out  settlers  to  Or 


uian  went 
expectation 


Tl 


cgon. 


ic 


letters  recently  published  bv  the  State  11 


torical  Society  of  Oregon,  (luoted 


18- 


H'l',  were  written  by  Dr.  Wliituian  t 


in  another  chai)- 


Ml! 


hi: 


lie  year  follow 


amous    journey.     In    them    he    clearl 


reveals  the  reasons  for  the  ride  to  Was! 


Tl 


ic  reader  can  believe  Dr.  Whil 


Mrs.  Victor,  but  boti 


nngt(ui. 
man  or  believe 


I  cannot  be  believe<l. 


J II  addition  iu  these  letters,  we  have  the  clear 
testimony   of   (leueral    LovejoN,   who   went   with 


d.'f    -'. 


Ml 


'Jh  I ; 


It' 


li 


I 


208    HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

him;  of  Kev.  Mr.  Spalding,  of  Elkanab  Walker, 
Dr.  Gray,  Rev.  Cushing'  Eells,  P.  B.  Whitman, 
who  acfompanied  him  on  his  return  trip;  Mr.  Ilin- 
man,  Dr,  S.  J.  Parker,  of  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  and  the 
Rev.  William  Barrows,  who  had  frequent  conver- 
sations with  liim  in  St.  Louis.  In  an  interview 
with  Dr.  William  Geiy,er,  published  in  the  New 
York  Sun,  January  17th,  1885,  he  says:  "I  was  at 
Fort  Walla  Walla,  and  associated  directly  with 
Dr.  Whitnuvn  when  he  started  East  to  save  Ore- 
}>-on.  I  v,as  there  when  he  returned,  and  I  am, 
perhaps,  the  only  living  pei-son  who  distinctly 
recoUects  all  the  facts.  He  left,  not  to  go  to  St. 
Louis  or  to  Boston,  but  for  the  distinct  purpose 
of  going  to  Washington  to  save  Oregon;  and  yet 
he  had  to  be  very  discreet  about  it." 

Will  the  honest  reader  of  history  reject  such 
testimony  as  worthless,  and  mark  that  of  these 
modern  skeptics  valuable? 

Mrs.  Victor's  charges,  that  selfishness  and  per- 
S(mal  aggrandizement  accounted  for  all  the  sacri- 
fices made  by  Whitman,  are  preposterous  in  the 
liglit  of  testimony,  and  made  utterly  untenaWe 
by  the  environments  of  the  Missionary.  There 
was  no  tinu>  in  all  the  years  tliat  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Whitman  lived  in  Oregon  that  they  could  not  have 
packed  all  their  worhlly  goods  ui)on  Hie  backs  of 
two  mules.  The  American  Board  made  no  bribe 
of  money  to  the  men  and  women  they  sent  out  to 


i| 


BANCROFT  INCONSISTENT. 


20» 


Oregon  and  olsewliore.  If  the  great  farm  be 
opened  at  Waiilatpui,  and  the  buihlings  he  erected 
by  his  patient  toil,  had  grown  to  be  wortli  a  mil- 
lion, it  would  not  have  added  a  single  dollar  to 
Whitman's  wealth.  Even  the  physician's  fees 
given  him  by  grateful  sufferers,  under  the  rules  of 
the  Board,  were  reported  and  counted  as  a  part  of 
his  meager  salary. 

The  idea  that  a  man  should  leave  wife  and 
home,   and   endure   the   perils   of   a    mid-winter 
journey  to  the  States,  to  persuade  Congress  "To 
buy   sheep"  and  "make  his  Mission  a  stopping 
place,"  or  the  American  Board  to  allow  him  to 
work  sixteen  hours  a  day  for  the  Cayuse  Indians, 
is  a  heavy  task  on  credulity,  and  is  so  far-fetched 
as  to  make  Whitman's  maligners  only  ridicuh)us. 
But  it  is  Hubert  Howe  Bancroft,  the  author  of 
the  thirty-eight   volume   History  of  the   Pacilic 
States,  who  is  the  offender-in-chief.     As  a  collector 
and  historian,  Bancroft  necessarily  recpiired  many 
CO- workers.     It  was  in  his  failure  to  get  them  into 
harmony  and  tell  the  straight  connected  truth,  in 
which  he  made  his  stupendous  blunders.     ( 'hapter 
is  arrayed  against  chapter,  and  volume  against 
volume.     One  tells  history,  and  another  denies  it. 
In  V(duuie  I,  page  379,  he  refers  to  the  incident, 
ah-eady  fully  recited   in  another  chapter,  of  the 
visit  of  the  Flathead  Indians  to  St.  Louis,  and  docs 
uot  once  doubt  its  historic  accuracy.;  but  in  Vol- 


■  ;  «* 

^^   '  "'1 . 

■■  i  «'"« 

•  Hi 

■■*             i 

-4 

J3   • 

,  If    "l 


I 


<  urn  ^ 


u 


.i    '•  M 


i 

1 

t  :i^l 

^•1 

■ 

8        !     ■    . 

I 


210         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

ume  XXIII,  another  of  his  literary  army  workK 
up  the  same  hist.,  'o  incif^ent,  and  says: 

"The  Pres\  .  vns  were  never  very  expert  in 
improvisinji:  1'  uiences.  Therefore,  when  Gray, 
tlie  great  Untruthful,  and  whilom  Christian  Mis- 
sion builder,  un«lertakes  to  appropriate  to  th(> 
Unseen  Powers  of  his  sect  the  sending  of  four  na- 
tive d(l('<^ates  to  St.  Lcmis  i!i  1S32,  begging  saviors 
for  transniontain  castaways,  it  is,  as  most  of 
Gray's  affairs  are,  a  failure.  The  Catholics  man- 
age such  things  better." 

On  page  584,  Volume  I,  "Chronicles  of  the 
Builders,"  Mr.  Bancroft  savs:  "The  Missionaries 
and  Pioneers  of  Oregon  did  much  to  assure  the 
country  to  the  United  States.  Had  there  been 
no  movement  of  the  kind,  England  would  have 
extended  her  claim  over  the  whole  territory,  with 
a  fair  prospect  of  making  it  her  own." 

In  another  place  says  Mr.  Bancroft:  "The  Mis- 
sionarv.  Dr.  Whitnuni,  was  no  (U'dinarv  num.     I 

I,     7  /  V 

do  not  know  which  to  admire  most  in  him,  his  cool- 
ness or  his  courage.  His  nerves  were  of  steel, 
his  patience  was  excelled  only  by  his  fearlessness. 
In  the  mighty  calm  of  his  nature  he  was  a  Caesar 
for  (Mirist." 

In  the  same  volume  another  of  his  literary  co- 
workers proceeds  to  glorify  John  Jacob  Astor,  and 
to  give  him  all  the  honors  for  saving  Oregon  to 
the  Union.    Mr.  Bancroft  says: 


A  FALSE  CHARGE. 


211 


"The  American  Hag  was  raised  none  too  soon 
at  Fort  Astoria  to  secure  the  great  Oregon  coun- 
try to  the  United  States,  for  already  the  men  of 
Montreal  were  hastening  thither  to  seize  the  prize; 
but  they  were  too  late.     It  is  safe  to  say  that  had 
not  Mr.  Astor  moved  in  this  matter  as  he  did,  had 
his  plans  been  frustrated  or  his  purposes  delayed, 
the  northern  boundary  of  the  United  States  might 
to-day  be  the  42d  parallel  of  latitude.    Thus  we 
see  the  momentous  significance  of  the  movement." 
The  author  proceeds  to  picture  Astor  and  make 
him  the  hero  in  saving  Oregon.     In  another  chap- 
ter we  have  given  the  full  force  and  eftV^ct  of  Mr. 
Astor's  settlement  at  Astoria.     A  careful  reading 
will  only  show  the  exaggerated  importance  of  the 
act,  when  compared  with  other  acts  which  the 
historian  only  passes  with  a  sneer  or  in  silence. 
John  Jacob  Astor  was  in  Oregcm  to  make  money 
and  for  no  other  purpose. 

In  Volume  1,  page  nil),  "(^hrouicle  of  the  Build- 
ers," Mr.  Bancroft  allows  Mrs.  Victor,  his  author- 
ity, to  dip  her  pen  deep  in  slander.  He  refers  to 
both  the  Methodist  Missions  on  the  Willamette 
and  the  Congregational  and  Preibyterian  Missions 
of  the  Walla  Walhi,  and  writes:  " 

"But  missionary  work  did  not  pay,  however, 
either  with  the  white  men  or  the  red,  whereupon 
the  apostles  of  this  region  began  to  attend  more 
to  their  own  affairs  than  to  the  saving  of  savage 


4 


am  ^ 


ill  .li 


*■  ;Nil| 


Ml'' 

1   ■ 

m 

•1*1   ^ 

1 

1 

■I 

1 

^ 

dl 

1 

212 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


souls.  They  broke  up  their  establishments  in 
1844,  and  thenceforth  became  a  political  clique, 
whose  chief  aim  was  to  acquire  other  men's  prop- 
erty." 

Please  note  the  charges.  Here  are  Christian 
men  and  women  who  have  for  years  deprived 
themselves  of  all  the  benefits  of  civilization,  and 
endured  the  hardships  and  dangers  of  frontier  life, 
professedly  that  they  miglit  preach  the  gospel  to 
savage  people,  but  says  Mr.  Bancroft: 

"Missionary  work  did  not  pay."  In  the  sense 
of  money  making,  when  did  Missionary  work  ever 
pay?  This  history  of  the  l^acific  States  is  a  his- 
tory for  the  generations  to  come.  It  is  to  go  into 
Christian  homes  and  upon  the  shelves  of  Cliristian 
librariefj.  If  it  is  true,  Christianity  stands  dis- 
graced and  Christian  Missionaries  stand  dishon- 
ored. 

Mr.  Bancroft  says:  "They  broke  up  ilw'iv  estab- 
lishments in  1844  and  became  a  political  i*li<iue, 
whose  chief  aim  was  to  acquire  other  men's  prop- 
erty." As  usual,  another  one  of  the  liistonan's 
valuable  aides  comes  upon  the  stage  in  tliesucceed- 
ing  volume,  and  gives  a  horrifying  account  of  "The 
great  massacre  at  Dr.  Wliitman's  Mission,  on  Nov. 
29th,  1847."  He  tells  us  "There  were  at  the  time 
seventy  souls  at  the  Mission"  and  "Fo\irteen  per- 
sons were  killed  and  forty-seven  taken  captives." 
Does  this  prove  the  historian's  truthfulness  who 


WHITMAN  NOT  A  POLITICIAN. 


213 


had  beforo  toUl  bis  readers  that  "Tbey  broke  up 
their  establishiiieuts  in  1844  and  thenceforth  be- 
came a  political  clique,  whose  aim  was  to  acquire 
other  men's  property?"  There  is  no  possible  ex- 
cuse for  the  historian  to  allow  his  aides  to  lead  him 
into  such  blunders  as  we  have  pointed  out. 

The  real  facts  were  in  reach.  Here  were  men 
and  women  educated,  cultivated,  exiles  from 
home,  engaged  in  the  grefit  work  of  civilizinj;-  and 
Christianizing  savages,  and  without  a  fact  ti)  sus- 
tain the  charge,  it  is  openly  asserted  that  they  gave 
up  their  work  and  entered  upon  the  race  for  jlolit- 
ical  power  and  for  wealth.  Instead  of  the  Mis- 
sions of  the  American  Board  being  "closed  in 
1844,"  they  were  at  no  time  in  a  more  prosperous 
condition;  as  the  record  of  Dr.  Eells,  Dr.  Spalding 
and  Dr.  Whitman  all  show. 

There  is  not  a  particle  of  evidence  that  Dr. 
Whitman  ever  took  any  part  in  any  political  move- 
ment in  Oregon;  save  and  except  as  his  great 
effort  to  bring  in  settlers  to  secure  the  country 
to  the  United  States  may  be  called  political.  As 
soon  as  he  could  leave  the  emigrants,  he  hurried 
home  to  his  Mission,  and  at  once  took  up  his  heavy 
work  which  he  had  laid  aside  eleven  months  be- 
fore. He  went  on  building  and  planting-,  and  sow- 
ing and  teaching;  the  busiest  of  busy  men  up  to 
the  very  date  of  the  massacre.  In  his  young  man- 
hood he  sacrificed  ease  in  a  civilized  home,  and  he 


f    «iii    t 


Ml 


1 

1  .■' 

M 

?■■• 

1 

i 


214        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

and  his  equally  noble  wife  dedicated  themselves 
and  their  lives  to  the  Missionary  service.  At  all 
times  they  were  the  same  patient,  quiet,  uncom- 
plaining toilers. 

Why  should  the  great  historian  of  the  Pacific 
States  stand  above  their  martyr  graves  and  at- 
tempt to  discredit  their  lives  and  dishonor  their 
memories?  Dr.  Whitman  exhibited  as  much 
patriotism  and  performed  as  grand  an  act  of 
heroism  as  any  man  of  this  century,  and  yet, 
Mr.  Bancroft  devotes  half  a  dozen  volumes  to 
"The  Chronicle  of  the  Builders,"  in  which  he  pre 
sents  handsome  photographs  and  clear,  well- 
written  sketchps  of  hundreds  of  men,  but  they  are 
mainly  millionaires  and  politicians.  The  histo- 
rian seems  to  have  had  no  room  for  a  Missionary 
or  a  poor  Doctor.  They  were  only  pretending  "to 
save  savage  souls,"  And  that  "did  not  pay,"  and 
"they  broke  up  t}ieir  settlements  in  1844  and 
thenceforth  became  a  political  clique"  whose 
"chief  aim  was  to  acquire  other  men's  property." 

It  is  a  slander  of  the  basest  class,  not  backed 
up  by  a  single  credible  fact,  wholly  dishonorable 
to  the  author,  and  discredits  his  entire  historv. 
An  old  poet  says: 

"And  ever  the  right  comes  uppermost, 
And  ever  is  justice  done!" 

The  Christian  and  patriotic  people  who  believe 
in  honest  dealing  will,  in  the  years  to  come,  com- 


TRUTH  WILL  PREVAIL. 


215 


pel  all  such  liistoi-ios  to  be  re-written  and  tlu^r 
malice  exininged,  w  they  will  cease  to  find  an 
honored  place  In  the  best  libraries. 

It  is  by  such  history  that  tlie  modern  public  has 
been  blinded,  and  tlie  real  heroes  relej^ated  to  tlic 
rear  to  mal^e  room  for  favorites.  But  facts  arc 
stubborn  things,  "The  truth  is  mighty  and  will 
prevail."  The  great  public  is  honest  and  loves 
justice  and  honesty;  and  it  will  not  permit  such  a 
record  to  stand.  The  awakening  has  already  be- 
gun. The  time  is  coming  wh<?n  the  martyred  he- 
roes in  tJieir  unhonored  graves  at  Waiilatpui,  will 
receive  tlie  reward  due  for  their  patriotic  and 
heroic  service. 

It  is  also  gratifying  to  be  able  to  observe  that 
this  malevolence  is  limited  to  narrow  bounds.  It 
has  originated  and  has  lived  only  in  the  fertile 
brains  of  two  or  three  boasters  of  historic  knowl- 
edge, who  have  made  up  in  noise  for  all  lack  of 
principle  and  justice.  They  seem  to  have  desired 
to  gain  notoriety  for  themselves  and  imagined 
that  the  w^(>rld  would  admire  their  courage.  It 
was  Mr.  Bancroft's  great  xnisfortune  that  this  little 
coterie  in  Oregon  were  entrusted  with  the  task  of 
writing  the  most  notable  history  of  modern  times, 
and  his  great  work  and  his  honored  name  will 
have  to  bear  the  odium  of  it  until  his  volumes  are 
called  in  and  the  grievous  wrong  is  righted.     It 


l    if*: 


sun      J 


■'1 

1 
i  ^  ■  ■  • 

)    :      ■      ; 

'Ii 

'  i; 

'  i' 

'i-» 

It 


:  n-i 

i 

If 

i 

1 

i 

1 

/ 

1-^ 

a 

k 

.  1 

1 

Ul     , 


216         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

will  be  (lone.  Mr.  E.  O.  Koss,  of  Prescott,  says  in 
the  Orej>onian  in  1884: 

"Time  will  vindicate  Dr.  Whitman,  and  when 
all  calumnies,  and  their  inventors,  shall  have  been 
forgotten,  his  name,  and  that  of  his  devoted,  noble 
wife,  will  stand  forth  in  history  as  martyrs  to  the 
cause  of  God  and  their  Country." 

Let  the  loyal,  patriotic  men  and  women  of  Amer- 
ica resolve  that  the  time  to  do  this  is  now. 


;  I 


CHAPTER  XI. 


THE  MASSACRE  AT  WAIILATPUI. 


In  all  the  years  since  the  terrible  trai;edy  at 
Waiilatpui,  historians  have  been  seeking  to  ^tind 
the  cause  of  that  great  crime. 

Some  have  traced  it  to  religious  jealousies,  but 
have,,  m  a  great  measure,  failed  to  back  such 
charges  with  substantial  facts.  It  seems  rather 
to  have  been  a  combination  of  causes  working  to- 
gether  for  a  common  purpose. 

For  nearly  half  a  century,  as  we  have  seen  in 
the  history  of  Oregon,  the  Indians  and  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company  had  been  working  harmoniously  to- 
gether.     It  was  a  case  in  which  civilization  had 
accommodated  itself  to  the  desires  of  savage  life 
The  Company  plainly  showed  the  Indians  that 
they  did  not  wish  their  lands,  or  to  deprive  them 
of  their  homes.     It  only  wanted  their  labor,  and  in 
return  it  would  pay  the  Irdiaus  in  many  luxuries 
and  comforts.     The  Indians  were  averse  to  manual 
labor,  and  the  great  Company  had  not  seen  fit  to 


{'$ 


!r^!ll.'J 


■8  ;   i  .1 


.  m     I 


i 

i  ^ 

•  1 

'i « 

',    " 

■l! '  '; 

4i' 

i 

f     ^ 

!'■  ^   :  !■ 

"    t:'       " "      ■ 

li 

'   1  i 

;    ■  I     .  ■ 
t  t.  ^    I  H 


218         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

encourage  it.  They  did  not  desire  to  see  them 
plant  or  sow,  raise  cattle,  or  build  houses  for  them- 
selves and  their  families.  That  would  directly 
interfere  with  their  work  as  fur  gatherers,  and 
break  in  upon  the  source  of  wealth  to  the  Com- 
pany. To  keep  them  at  the  steel  trap,  and  in 
the  chase,  was  the  aim  of  the  Hudson  Bay  policy, 
and  such  was  congenial  to  the  Indian,  and  just 
what  he  desired. 

The  Jesuit  priests  who  were  attached  to  the 
Hudson  Bay  Company,  seconded  the  interest  of 
the  Company,  and  attempted  to  teach  religion  to 
the  Indian  and  still  leave  him  a  savage.  Upon 
the  coming  of  the  Protestant  Missionaries,  the  In- 
dians welcomed  them  and  expressed  great  delight 
at  the  prospect  of  being  taught.  They  gave  their 
choice  locations  to  the  Missions,  and  most  solemn 
promise  to  co-operate  in  the  work.  But  neither 
they  nor  their  fathers  had  used  the  hoe  or  the 
plow,  or  built  ])('rmauent  houses  in  which  to  live. 
They  were  by  nature  opposed  to  manual  labor. 
Squaws  were  made  to  do  all  the  work,  while  Indian 
men  hunted  and  did  the  fighting.  The  Missicm- 
aries  c<mld  see  but  little  hope  of  Christianizing, 
unless  they  could  induce  them  to  adopt  civilized 
customs. 

It  was  right  there  that  the  breach  between  the 
Indians  and  tlie  Missionaries  began  to  widen. 
They  were  willing  to  acc(»p1  a  religion  which  did 


I 


CAUSES  OF  THE  MASSACRE. 


219 


not  interfere  witli  mxago  custoiiKs,  which  had  be- 
come ca  part  of  their  lives.  It  was  the  custom  of 
the  Iludsou  Bay  Company,  by  giviu-  modest 
bribes,  to  win  over  any  unruly  chief.  It  was  the 
best  way  to  hold  power;  but  the  Missionaries  held 
the  tribes  which  they  served  up  to  a  higher  stand- 
ard of  morals. 

The  (Xviise  Indians  made  a  foray  upon  a  weaker 
tribe,  and  levied  on  their  stock  in  payment  for 
some  imaginary  debt.  Dr.  Whitman  gave  the 
Chiefs  a  reprimand,  and  called  it  thieving,  and 
demanded  that  they  send  back  everything  thin- 
had  taken.  The  Indians  grew  very  angry  in  being 
thus  reminded  of  their  sins. 

We  mention  these  little  incidents  as  illustra- 
tions of  the  strained  couvlitions  which  speedily 
nuKle  their  appearance  in  the  government  of  the 
Indians,  and  made  it  easy  work  for  the  mischief- 
makers  and  criminals,  later  on.     It  was  the  boast 
of  English  authors  that  "The  English  people  g(»t 
along  with  Indians  much  better  than  AiDericaiis." 
This  seems  to  be  true,  and  it  comes  from  the  fact 
that  they  did  not  antagonize  savage  customs.     As 
long  as  their  savage  subjects  tilled  the  treasurv  of 
tlM'  Hudson  Hay  (Nnni>any,  they  cared  little' f»»r 
auglitelse.     As  a  matterofpolicy  and  self  defense, 
they  treated  them  honestly  and  fairlv  in  all  biisi- 
ness  transactions.     Tliey  were  in  full  sympathv 
with  the  Indians  in  thcii-  demand  to  k<'ep  out  white 


,   H'^ 


•»t«  Si 

1 

'»««■« 

«;» 

»' 

.  m 

I' 

i!- 

■  «i    • ., 

220 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


immijj^ration,  and  keep  the  entire  land  for  fnr- 
bearing'  animals  and  savaji'e  life. 

Dr.  Whitman's  famons  ride  to  the  States  in  the 
Winter  of  1842-43,  and  his  pilotinji-  the  large  im- 
mijj^ration  of  American  settlers  in  1848,  made  him 
a  marked  man,  both  with  the  Indians  and  the  Hud- 
son Ray  Company.  WHien  the  Treaty  was  signed 
in  1840,  and  England  lost  Oregon,  Whitman  was 
doubtless  from  that  hour  a  doomed  man.  Roth 
the  Fludson  Ray  ('(mipany  and  the  Indians  well 
knew  who  was  responsible. 

First,  "The  great  white-haired  Chief,"  Dr.  Me- 
Loughlin,  was  sacriticed  because  he  was  a  friend 
of  Whitman  and  the  Missionaries.  There  was  no 
other  reason.  If  Dr.  McLoughliu  could  have  been 
induced  to  treat  the  Protestant  Missi(maries  as 
he  treated  tlie  American  fur  traders,  his  English 
Com])any  would  have  been  delighted  to  have  re- 
tained him  as  Chief  Factor  for  life.  Rut  with 
them  it  was  a  crinu*  to  show  kindness  to  a  Protest- 
ant Missionary,  and  thus  foster  American  iiit«M'- 
ests.  If  McLoughliu  had  not  resigned  and  got  out 
of  the  way,  lie  would  doubtless  have  lost  his  life  by 
the  hands  of  an  assassin. 

The  Treaty  was  signed  and  ju'oclaimed  August 
fith,  184(1,  and  the  nuissacre  did  not  occur  until  the 
20th  of  November,  1847.  In  those  days  the  news 
moved  sh)wly  and  the  results,  and  the  knowledge 
that  England  and  tlie  Hudson  Ray  Com])any  luid 


H\ 


ENGLISH  INTRIGUES.  221 

lost  all,  (lid  not  reach  the  outposts  uloii<.-  the  Co- 
lumbia until  late  in  the  Spduo-  of  1847.     If  the 
English  and  Hudson  Bay  Company  had  nothin-  to 
do  in  fanning  the  flame  of  Indian  anger,  it  was  be- 
cause they  had  changed  and  reformed  their  meth- 
ods.    How    much    or    how    little    they    worked 
through  the    cunning    and    duplicity    of   Jesuil 
priests  has  never  been  demonstrated.    After  the 
Revolutionary  War,  England  never  lost  an  oppor- 
tunity to  incite  the  Indians  upon  our  Northern 
frontier  to  make  savage  assaults.     Uov  humane 
statesmen  dc^nounced  her  work  as  uncivilized  and 
unchristian. 

(Jeneral  Washington,  in  a  published  letter  to 
John,  Jay,  in  1794,  said:  "There  does  not  remain 
a  doubt  in  the  mind  of  any  well-irformed  per- 
son  in  this  country,  not  shut  against  conviction, 
that  all  the  difticulties  we  encounter  with  the  In- 
dians, their  hostilities,  the  murders  of  helpless 
women  and  children  ahmg  our  frontiers,  result 
fi-om  the  conduct  of  the  agents  of  (Jreat  Britain 
in  this  country." 

At  no  time  then  had  the  English  as  much  reason 
for  anger  at  American  success  and  prosperity 
as  in  the  case  of  Oregon,  where  a  great  orgaiiiza- 
tion,  which  has  been  f(.r  well-nigji  j.ajf  a  century 
in  supreme  <-on<rol,  was  now  n»mi>clled  to  move 
on.     To  have  shown  no  resent mcjit   would   liave 


m 

'    1 

HI 

wi 

r  i 

"i. 

111 

t 

1 

:  i 

iM 


"1  ^  H  : 


;i.    ' 

L    IH 


222 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


b(M»n  unlike  the  representatives  of  England  in  the 
days  of  Washington. 

Undoubtedly  the  sickness  of  the  Indians,  that 
year,  and  the  charge  that  the  Americans  had  in- 
troduced the  disease  to  kill  the  Indians  off  and  get 
their  land,  was  a  powerful  agent  in  winning  over 
to  the  murderers  many  who  were  still  friendly  to 
the  Missionaries.  The  Indians  had  fallen  from 
their  high  mark  of  honesty  of  which  Mrs.  Whit- 
man in  her  diary,  years  before,  boasted,  and  had 
invaded  the  melon  patch  and  stolen  melons,  so 
that  the  Indians  who  ate  them  were  temporarily 
nuide  sick.  With  their  superstitious  ideas  they 
called  it  "conjuring  the  mehm,"  and  the  incident 
was  used  effectually  to  excite  hostilities. 

Tliere  is  no  evidence  that  white  men  directly 
instigated  the  massacre  or  took  a  part  in  its  hor- 
rors. While  there  is  evidence  of  a  bitter  animos- 
ity existing  among  the  Jesuit  priests  toward  the 
Protestant  Missicmaries,  and  their  defense  of  the 
open  charges  made  against  them  is  lame;  yet  the 
historical  facts  are  not  sutticient  to  lay  the  blame 
upon  them. 

Nor  is  it  necessary  to  hold  the  leading  oflrtcials 
of  the  llu(ls(m  Bay  (Nnnpany  responsible  for  the 
crime  as  c()-cons])irators.  There  are  always  hang- 
ers-on and  irresponsible  ])arties  who  stand  ready 
to  do  the  villain's  work. 

The  leader  of  the  massacre  was  the  half-breed, 


JOE  LEWIS. 


223 


Joe  Lewis,  whose  greatest  aceoiiiplisliment  was 
lying.     Ue  seems  to  have  bronght  the  conspiracy 
up  to  the  killing  point  by  his  falsehoods.     lie  was 
a  half  Canadian  and  came  to  Oregon  in  company 
with  a  band  of  priests,  and  strangely  enough, 
dropped  down  upon  Dr.  AVhitman  and  by  him  was 
clothed  and  fed  for  many  months.     The  Doctor 
soon  learned  his  real  (;haracter  and  how  he  was 
trying  to  breed  distrust  auumg  the  Indians.     Dr. 
Whitman  got  him  the  positi<m  of  teamster  in  a 
wagon  train  for  the  Willamette,  and  expressed  a 
hope  that  he  was  clear  of  him.     But  Joe  deserted 
his  post  and  returned  to  Waiilatpui,  an<l  as  events 
showed,  was  guided  by  some  unseen  power  in  the 
carrying  out  of  the  plans  of  the  murderers. 

To  believe  that  he  conceived  it,  ()r  tliat  the  in- 
centives to  the  execution  of  the  diabolJ^m  rested 
alone  with  the  Indians,  is  to  tax  even  the  chmIu- 
lous.     They  were  simply  the  direct  agents,  and 
were,  <loubtlcss,  as  has  been  said,  wrought  up  to 
the  crime  through  superstitions  in  regard  to  Dr. 
Whitman's  responsibility  for  the  prevailing  sick- 
ness, which  had  caused  nuuiy  deaths  aunmg  the 
Indians.     For  all  the  vears  to  come,  the  readers  of 
history  will  weigh  the  facts  for  theuiselves,  and 
continue  to  place  the  responsibility  upon  this  an<l 
that  cause;    but,  for  a  safe  standing  p^unt,  will 
always  have  to  drop  back  uixm  ".e  fju-t  tliat  it 
wus  the  "irrepressible  coutiict"  between  civiliza- 


''  «'♦ 

if*  :■; 

f  *::.IW     ^ 

i   ■J'^fli     -. 

i    nv,<»  ■  . 

"■■■M-  " 

'    "1    -: 

'  m  ^ 

M 

aim 

{it 


i 


Si 

n 

.  1' 

'*  '' 

:««  .  1 

Jl    ■' 

1     "    '  : 

! 

I 

I 

i 
1 


i 


224        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

tion  and  savagery,  between  Christianity  and 
heathenism,  bael^ed  up  by  national  antagonisms, 
which  had  many  times  before  engendered  bad 
spirit. 

It  has  been  the  history  of  the  first  settlement 
of  every  State  of  the  Union,  more  or  less,  from  the 
landing  upon  Plymouth  Kock  up  to  the  tragedy  at 
Waiilatpui.  Only  it  seems  in  the  case  of  the  mas- 
sacre at  the  Whitman  Mission,  to  be  more  cold- 
blooded and  atrocious,  in  the  fact  that  those  killed 
had  spent  the  best  years  of  their  lives  in  the  ser- 
vice (»f  the  murderers. 

Those  who  had  received  the  largest  favors  and 
the  most  kindness  from  the  Doctor  and  his  good 
wife,  were  active  leaders  in  the  great  crime.  The 
Rev.  H.  H.  Spalding,  in  a  letter  to  the  parents  of 
Mrs.  Whitman,  dated  April  (I,  1848,  gives  a  clear, 
concise  account  vf  the  great  tragedy. 

lie  says:  "Th<\y  were  inhumanly  butchered  by 
their  own,  up  to  the  last  moment,  beloved  Indians, 
for  whom  their  warm  Christian  hearts  had  prayed 
for  eleven  years,  and  their  un^\earied  hands  had 
administered  to  their  every  Avant  in  sickness  and 
distress,  and  had  bestowed  unnumbered  blessings; 
wlio  claimed  to  be,  and  were  considered,  in  a  high 
state  of  civilization  and  Cliristianity.  Some  of 
them  were  members  of  our  Church;  others,  candi- 
dates for  admission;  some  of  them  adherents  of 
the  Catholic  diurch;  all  praying  Indians. 

"They  were,  doubtless,  urged  on  to  the  dread- 


1     «  F 


!   ti' 


'i 


;  >  m , 


.1 


.4  »«i  I  J' 
lli,  I*    I 


1/ ' 

1 

THE  MASSACRE. 


225 


ful  deed  by  foreign  influences,  which  we  have  felt 
coming  in  upon  us  like  a  devastating  flood  for  the 
last  three  or  four  years;  nnd  we  have  begged  the 
authors,  with  tears  in  our  eyes,  to  desist,  not  so 
much  on  account  of  our  own  lives  and  property, 
but  for  the  sake  of  those  coming,  and  the  safety 
of  those  already  in  the  country.  But  the  authors 
thought  none  would  be  injured  but  the  hated  Mis- 
sionaries—the devoted  heretics;  and  the  work  of 
Hell  was  urged  on,  and  has  ended,  not  only  in  the 
death  of  three  Missionaries,  the  ruin  of  our  Mission, 
but  in  a  bloody  w^ar  with  the  settlements,  which 
may  end  in  the  massacre  of  every  adult. 

"The  massacre  took  place  on  the  fatal  29th  of 
November  last,  commencing  at  half-past  one. 
Fourteen  persons  were  murdered  flrst  and  last; 
nine  the  first  day.  Five  men  escaped  from  the 
Station,  three  in  a  most  wonderful  manner,  one  of 
whom  was  the  trembling  writer,  with  whom,  I 
know,  you  will  unite  in  praising  God  for  deliver- 
ing  even  one. 

"The  names  and  places  of  the  slain  are  as  fol- 
lows:  The  two  precious  names  already  given— 
my  hand  refuses  to  write  them  again;  Mr.  Rogers, 
young  man,  teacher  of  our  Mission  School  in  the 
AA'inter  of  '4(5,  who  since  then  has  been  aiding  us 
in  our  Mission  work,  and  studying  for  the  minis- 
try, with  a  view  to  be  (U'ihiined  and  join  our  Mis- 
sion;  John  and  Francis  Sager,  the  two  eldest  of 


'tt'Wril 


I  m 


;  i 


■  4 

J' 

Ml 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

the  orphan  family,  aj-os  IT  and  15;  Mr.  Kimball, 
of  Laporte,  Indiana,  killed  the  second  day,  left  a 
widow  and  five  children;  Mr.  Saunders,  of  Oska- 
loosa,  Iowa,  left  a  widoAv  and  five  children;  Mr. 
Hall,  of  Missouri,  escaped  to  Fort  Walla  Walla, 
was  refused  protection,  put  over  the  Columbia 
River,  killed  by  the  Walla  Wallas,  left  a  widow 
and  five  children;  Mr.  Marsh,  of  Missouri,  left  a 
son  grown  and  young  daughter;  Mr.  Hoffman,  of 
Elmira,  New  York;  Mr.  (lillan,  of  Oskaloosa,  Iowa; 
Mr.  Sails,  of  the  latter  place;  Mr.  Bewley,  of  Mis- 
souri. The  two  last  were  dragged  from  their  sick- 
beds, eight  days  after  the  first  massacre,  and 
butchered;  Mr.  Young,  kilk  d  the  second  day.  The 
last  five  were  unmarried  num. 

"Forty  women  and  children  fell  captives  int 
the  hands  of  the  murderers,  among  them  my  own 
beloved  daughter,  Eliza,  ten  years  old.     Three  of 
the  captive  children  soon  died,  left  without  pa- 
rental care,  two  of  them    your    dec^'    Narcissa's 
adopted     children.     The     young     women     were 
dragged  from  the  house  by  ni<jht,  and  beastly 
treated.     Three  of  them  were  forced  to  become 
wives  of  the  murderers  of  their  parents,  who  often 
boasted  of  the  deed,  to  taunt  tlu-ir  victims." 
Continuing  the  narrative  xMr.  Spalding  says: 
"Monday  morning  the  Doctor  assisted  in  bury- 
ing an  Indum;    returned  to  the  house  and  was 
reading;    several  Indians,  as  usual,  were  in  the 


t 


THE  MASSACRE.  227 

bouse;  one  sat  down  by  him  to  attract  his  atten- 
tion  by  asking  for  medicine;    another  came  be- 
hind him  with  a  tomahawk  concealed  under   his 
blanket  and  witii  two  blows  in  the  back  of  the 
bead,  brought  him  to  the  floor  senseless,  probably, 
but  not  lifeless;  soon  after  Teiaukaikt,  a  candidate 
for  admission  in  our  Church,  and  who  was  receiv- 
ing unnumbered  favors  every  day  from  Brother 
and  Sister  Whitman,  came  in  and  took  particular 
pains  to  cut  and  beat  liis  fnce  and  cut  his  throat; 
but  he  still  lingered  till  near  night. 

«As  soon  as  the  firing  commem-ed  at  the  differ- 
ent  places,  Mrs.  Hayes  ran  in  and  assisted  Sister 
Whitman  in  taking  the  Doctor  from  the  kitchen 
to  the  sitting-room  and  placed  him  upon  the  set- 
tee     Ihis  was  before  his  face  was  cut.     His  dear 
wife  bent  over  him  and  mingled  her  flowing  tears 
with  his  precious  blood.     It  was  all  she  could  do. 
They  were  her  last  tears.     To  whatever  she  said, 
be  would  reply  'no'  in  a  whisper,  probably  not  sen- 
sible. 

"John  Sager,  who  was  sitting  by  the  Doctor 
when  he  received  the  first  blow,  drew  his  pistol, 
but  his  arm  was  seized,  the  room  filling  with  In- 
dians, and  his  head  was  cut  to  pieces.  He  lin- 
gered till  near  night.  Mr.  Il<.gers,  atta eked  at  the 
water,  escaped  with  a  broken  arm  and  wound  in 
the  head,  and  rushing  into  the  house,  shut  the  door. 
Ibe  Indjuns  seemed  to  have  left  the  house  now 


'iia 
■V, 
M 


V:f: 


ulU 


Im 

U|jH|i^H 

SiSM         linw   MAHlM'H  Will  I'M  AN  HAVIOO  OKIOODN. 

{<)  msmInI  in  innnli'i'iuji*  olliri'M.  Mr.  Kinilinll,  with 
M  Ih'oKcm  unu,  iminImmI  in;  Imlli  HccnHrd  IIu'iiihcIvcn 
n|tN(!iirN. 

•'SInIim'  Wliilmim  in  nnfiutHli,  now  bcndln^i;  ovor 
JH'P  «l,vin^  liUNhinul  tiixl  n<iw  ovri*  (lie  hI«  U;  now 
«-on»roiMinm'  (lie  living.',  Hrmnnln^  <liil(lrrn,  wnn 
|»MN,sin^'  l»v  ( lio  window,  when  slic  immcIvoiI  ( ho  IIi'mI 
nIioI  in  l»or  rijilil  Ih'omhI,  inn!  roll  lo  llio  Moor.  Hlio 
innnodiiHolv  (iros<'  ninl  Knoolod  bv  (ho  ho((<'o  on 
which  JMV  liop  blooding;'  IniHlmnd.  nnd  in  Ininddo 
prn.Nor  connnotniod  Ini*  m»miI  to  <)od.  nnd  prnvod 
\'\)V  lioi*  {\{",\v  oidldron  wlio  wore  mImhiI  (o  I»o  nnido 
:)  N<M<otnl  tinio  orpliMns  nnd  lo  I'mII  into  i  ho  Ininds 
of  lior  (iin'rt  tnnrdoroi'M.  I  tun  rortiiin  Nln«  pni.vod 
for  lioi*  innrdororN,  loo.  Slio  in>\\  w<'n(  into  llio 
rii!ind>or  witli  Mrs.  linvos,  MisN  llowlov,  Cntlni 
rin«\  nini  tl\o  .si«k  rinldron.  'I'Ihm  ronuilnod  liil 
\Wi\v  niiihl. 

"In  tlio  nionnliino  (Iio  doors  and  windows  woro 
brolvon  in  nnd  llio  Indinns  onlorod  nnd  cojnnioin'nl 
plnndiM'ini;,  bnt  lln\\  I'onrod  (o  j^o  inio  llw  clunn- 
bor.  'IMiov  I'iiljod  for  SishM"  NVIiilnnm  nnd  llrotiior 
Koii'ors  to  cmno  down  ninl  piondsod  lliov  slnnild 
not  bo  linrt.  'I'l\is  i>ronnso  wns  ofton  r<'|n'n(od, 
nnd  lluw  rnnio  tiown.  Mrs.  W'lutnuin,  fnini  willi 
th(^  loss  of  blood,  wns  <{irrio«l  on  n  solioo  to  (ho 
door  bv  Hrothor  lioutM*snn<l  Miss  Howlov. 

"Kvorv  cornor  of  the  room  wns  rrowdod  willi 


hulians  baviny;  tluMr  ;»nns  roadv  to  tiro 


Thochil 


'rillO  MAHHACUIO. 


Z2I» 


''•■''"  '"••'  ' »'  Ih-uiicJiI  ,|,,u  II  mill  liii.MIrd  (i»K«'(lM'i- 

[' ^''"'-      '''"•''''•  wnHoiic.      II.  IT  iIh-v  III,,!  „(o,„l 

''<"•  <t  l"iiM  liinr  Niirroitii(l<M|  l,v  uiiiin  |m.jii(,..I  ,iI 
'lirlr  hrniMlH.    Sli..  orini  hninl  lli,.  .ry,  "HI. nil  w*- 

NiMM.cr  niKl  licr  hl(M»<l  iM-ni nl.l,  hIh.  mhvh,  ntid 

^'"'  '■*'"  "l»«'i'  Ml..  (I it.ii   i,„w  III..  on|',.r  wiiH 

Kivni.  '•!>.»  iiol  hIk.oI  Ihr  rliihlivn,"  ,ih  llic  m.'M.... 
piiHN.Ml  jiv  iIh.  rhlMivn,  uv..r  Ih,.  h|,...,||||.s  .lyinn 
IhmIv  mI'  .lolin. 

"•''"'"'  "••►'•inil!  Til,.  H«.(h...  iKlvniiroH  mImhiI 
i(M  l..ti|;lh  IVom  III,.  ,|„or,  whrii  ih,.  j,„„h  swn' 
•  liMrlinr^..,!  IVoni  uilliuiH  mihI  wilhin,  lli,.  |M,u,|,.r 
fK'Idiillv  Imii'iiIii^  Hi,.  rn,-,.N  „r  |j|,.  ,  |,i|, !,■,., i. 
Itrollirr  |{,»;4,.rH  niisnl  U\h  InmmI  mihI  itIcI,  "My 
<lo<l,"  jiihI  IVII  )||m)|i  IiIh  Inr,.,  pi,.r,.,.,|  willi  nmny 
'•""''^-  '^>''  !'<'  IVII  no!  ill,,!,,'.  An  ,.,|inil  iiiiihIm.'i- 
"•''  <li,.  ,l,.ji,ll.y  \y,.„|M»iiH  \y,.n.  |,'y,.|,.,|  j,|  (|„.  h,'!!,-,' 
J>i'<l  Hi,.  ,llM,'luifM,.  hit, I  Im>,.|i  ,|,.j,,||_y.  hIm' 
j;r<>nii,.,l,  nil, I  lliif.,.n.,l  |',,i-  h,.iii,'  lim,.  i„  mivjiI 
llK'otiy. 

'"I'\v<»  of  III,.  Iiiiiii],,,,.  I„,ji„MH  llin-vv  (li,.ir  l,|;inl(- 
<'<H  ,.y,.|.  III,.  Mill,.  ,.|ii|,|,.,.„   1,11,1, |j,..|   |„^,.||„.,-  in 

"'"'  '•"••'•('I'  ,)!'  III,.  |„,.ll|,  Mil, I  hIiIII  „|||  ||„.  Mjolil  3,„ 
<ll,'.V  IM..-1I  (lu.jr  ,|.yi|,u  vi,.|i,„H  \yill,  uj.ip.s,  .,,",|  ,.„| 
"H'ir    fn,-,.S    Willi    lvHiy,.N.       |(     Wuh    .1,,,.    |,,.NyiH,    ||„. 

<^in!i,liini  lijiir-hr,',.,!,  Ilii.i  Th-mI  hIi,.I  Mi-h.  Wliil- 
"inii,  Inil  II.  wuH  TniiilNiiky  \vli„  |„„|<  her  HCiih)  uh 
i\   (i',>|>liy." 

All  <»l(l   Oregon   fn,.|i,l   „r  |i„.  uiiLJior,  HumuH 


•    -■   ;  fj  i 


Jl 


fr 

1 

j  ' 

fl 

IBj 

■■■.''i  f ' 

i 

■'t  : 

1 

"'f'  i 

■ 

■;           ( 

■ 

^ 

1 

230 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


Campbell,  now  livinp;  in  Moscow,  Idaho,  spent  the 
Winter  of  '46  and  '47  at  the  Whitman  Mission, 
and  never  wearied  in  telling'  of  the  grandly 
Christian  character  of  Mrs.  Whitman,  of  her  kind- 
ness and  patience  to  all,  whites  and  Indians  alike. 
Every  evening-  she  delighted  all  with  her  singing. 
Her  voice,  after  all  her  hard  life,  had  lost  none  of 
its  sweetness,  nor  had  her  environments  in  any 
sense  soured  her  toward  any  of  the  little  pleas- 
antries of  everv-dav  life. 

Says  Mr.  Campbell,  "Yon  can  imagine  my  hor- 
ror in  1849,  when  at  Grand  Konde,  old  Tamtsaky 
acknowledged  to  me  that  he  scalped  Mrs.  Whit- 
man and  told  of  her  long,  beautiful,  silky  hair." 
Soon  after  the  United  States  Government,  bv  or- 
der  of  General  Lane,  sent  officers  to  arrest  the  mur- 
derers. Old  Tamtsaky  was  killed  at  the  time  of 
the  arrest  and  escaped  the  hangman's  rope,  which 
was  given  to  five  of  the  leadei-s,  after  trial  in  Ore- 
gon City,  May,  1S50.  The  names  of  the  murderers 
hanged  were  Tilwkait,  Tahamas,  Quij.hmarsiini, 
Klvakamus  and  Siahsalucus. 

The  licv.  Ciishiug  lOells  says,  "The  day  before  tin* 
massacre,  Istikus,  a  lirm  friend  of  Dr.  Whitman, 
told  him  of  the  threats  against  his  life,  and  ad- 
vised him  to  'go  away  uudl  my  people  have  better 
liearts.'  lie  reached  home  from  the  h)dg('  of 
Ist'Vus  late  in  liic  night,  but  visited  his  sick  before 
retiring.     Then  he  told  Mrs.  Whitman  the  words 


THE  FATAL  TOMAHAWK. 


231 


of  Istikiis.     Kiiowino'  how  true  a  Mend  Istikus 
was,  and  his  oreat  conrane,  the  situation  became 
more  perilous  in  tlie  estimation  of  both,  tlian  ever 
before.     Mrs.  ^Miitman  was  so  alfeeted  by  it  that 
she  remained  in  her  room,  and  one  of  the  children, 
who  took  her  brcMikfast  up  to  her  room,  found  her 
weepinf?.     The  Doctor  went  about  his  work  as 
usual,  but  told  somo  of  his  associates  that  if  it  were 
possible  to  do  so,  lie  would  remove  all  the  family 
to  a  place  of  safety.     It  is  the  tirst  time  he  ever 
seems  to  have  been  alarmed,  or  thought  it  possi- 
ble that  his  Indians  would  attempt  such  a  crime." 
Kev.  Mr.  Eells  gives  a  detailed  account  of  the 
massacre  and  its  horrors,  but  in  this  connection 
we  only  desire  to  give  the  reader  a  clear  vieAv 
without  dwelling  ui>on  its  atrocities.    '*The  toma- 
hawk with  which  Dr.  Whitman  was  killed,  was 
presented  to  the  Cayuse  Indians  by  the  lilack- 
feet  upon  some  great  occasion,  and  was  ])reserved 
by  the  Cayuse  as  a  memorable  relic  long  after  the 
hanging  of  the  Chiefs.     In  the  Yakiuui   War  it 
l)assed  to  another  tribe,  and  the  Chief  who  own«'d 
il   was  kille<l;    an  Indian  agent,  Logan,  got  ]»os- 
s»'ssi«»n  of  il  and  presented  it  to  the  Sanitary  So- 
ciety during  the  (Mvil  War.     A  subscription  of  one 
hundred  dollars  was  raised  and  it  was  ])rcsentrd 
to  the  Legislature  of  Oregon,  and    is    ]»res<'rved 
among  the  archives  of  the  State." 

This  narrative  would  be  incomplete  without  re- 


m^m 


liiM't  ■ '  \ 


,i 

t  m 

'■in 
i< 

<m 

■i 

«l 
II 


ft.,     '•' 


'?' ' 


, 

■1      •: 
f 

1 

1 

1 

1 

:r   <> 


232 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


cordinj:^  the  prompt  action  of  the  TTudson  Bay 
Company  officers  in  coming  to  the  relief  of  the 
captive  women  and  diildren.  As  soon  as  Chief 
Factor  Ogden  heard  of  it,  he  Ir^t  no  time  in  re- 
pairing to  the  scene,  reaching  Walla  ^Valla  De- 
cember 12th.  In  about  two  weeks  he  succeeded 
in  ransoming  all  the  captives  for  blankets,  shirts, 
guns,  ammunition  and  tobacco,  and  at  an  exi^ense 
of  |500.  No  other  man  in  the  Territory,  aiul  no 
army  that  could  have  been  mustered  could  have 
done  it. 

The  Americans  in  Oregon  promptly  mustered 
and  attacked  the  Indians,  who  retreated  to  the 
territory  of  a  difl'erent  tribe.  But  the  murderers 
and  headers  among  tlie  Indians  were  not  arrested 
until  nearlv  two  vears  after  the  crime. 

Wliile  some  have  charged  that  the  officials  of 
the  Hudson  Bay  ComiKiny  coidd  have  averted  the 
massacre,  this  is  only  an  opinion.  Tlieir  humane 
and  ])rom])t  act  in  releasing  llie  captive  wouicii 
and  children  from  woi'se  than  death,  was  woi'thy 
of  it,  and  has  received  the  strongest  words  of 
praise. 

Thus  was  ended  disastrously  the  work  of  the 
American  Board  which  had  given  such  large 
proniise  for  eleven  years.  While  its  great<'sl 
achievement  was  not  in  saving  savage  s(»uls,  l)ut 
in  being  largely  instrument:)  1  in  peacefully  sav- 
ing three  gri'at  v^tates  to  the  American  Cnion,  yet 


A  PEW  FAITHFUL  ONES. 

there  is  <y(HHl  evidence,  j-ears  after  tl 
that  the  hibors  of  the  ^I 


233 


le  iiiassacre. 


issionaries  had  not  bt 


in  vain.     After  the  Treatv  of  1855. 


en 


after  the  massacre,  ( 
one  of  the  Council, 
one  thousand  Nez  P 


seven  vears 


renend  Joel  Paluier,  who  was 
says,  "Forty-hve  Cayuse  and 


'erces  liave  kept  up  re<«ular 


family  and  jmblic  woisiii]*,  .sin<;iiio'  from  (he  N 
Perces  Hymn  Book  and  rea<lin<;'    ti 
Matthew,  translated  into  Nez  Per 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  8])aldino." 


ez 


le    (lOsiH*]    of 
ces,  the  work  of 


Says  General  Pari 


<»e,    ''Many  of  them  showed 


sui 


prismo-  evidences  of  piety,  especially  Timotl 
who  was  their  reoular  and  faithful  ineacher  d 
iii<>-   all    these   years.      A 
Istil, 


IV 


liir- 


u 


s,  as  lon<;'  jis  he  lived,  rana-  1 


mono-    the    Cavuse,    old 


lis  bell  everv 


Sabbath  and  called  his  little  band  toirether  for 


worship 


ission,  Pev.  Mr 


Twelve  years  after  leavino-  his  M 
Si>aldinr    returned   to  Ids  pn.ph-  aiid    foiiud  the 
Tribe  had  k<'])t  up  tin- form  of  w<»rship  all  Iho  vears 
since.     Upon  oponiiin   a  sclio(d,  it  was  at  '(Mir<' 


crowded    with   children,  and 


even  (»ld   men    and 


w 


omen,  with  failino- eyesioht,  insisted  upon  bei 


taii«'ht 


iiii- 


;    and   the  interest   did   nctt   lla 


failin^r  health  of  Mr.  Si)aldinn>  f,„ced  him  t 
uj)  his  Avork.     The  K'ev.  Dr.  Kcll 


U'  until  the 


o  ^ive 
s'  experience  was 


much  the  same;  all  -oino  (o  ]»!-ove  that  the  carl 
work  of  the  American  P(»ard 


goo<l,  and  emidmsiziii<;  the  fact  that 


was  not  fruitless  in 
good  words 


::  'in" 
mm 


I'Jill! 

m 


..»    v  I 

11 

'I 

fu 

II 


E. 


234        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

and  work  are  never  wholly  lost,  and  their  power 
only  will  be  known  when  the  final  summing  up  is 
made. 

There  have  been  few  great  men  that  have  not 
felt  the  stings  of  criticism  and  misrepresentation. 
The  wholly  unselfish  life  of  Dr.  Marcus  Wliitman, 
from  his  young  manhood  to  the  day  of  his  death, 
it  would  seem,  ought  to  have  shielded  him  from 
this  class,  but  it  did  not.  Tn  justice  to  his  con- 
temporaries, however,  it  is  due  to  say,  every  one  of 
them,  of  all  denominations  except  one,  was  his 
friend  and  defender. 

That  one  man  was  a  French  .Jesuit  priest,  by 
the  name  of  J.  li.  A.  Brouillett.  He  was  Actinu' 
Bishoj)  anumg  the  Indians,  of  a  tribe  near  to  the 
Cayuse,  where  Dr.  Whitman  had  labored  for 
eleven  years,  and  where  he  perished  in  1847.  After 
the  massacre,  there  were  some  grave  charg<'s 
nuido  against  IJrouilh^t,  and  in  18.").3  he  v;rote  a 
pamphlet,  entith^d,  ''Protestantism  in  Oregon,"  in 
which  he  made  a  vicious  attack  upon  the  dead 
Whitman,  and  th<'  living  Dr.  Spalding,  and  the 
other  Protestant  Missionaries  of  the  AnuM'ican 
Board. 

It  naturally  called  out  some  very  pointed  re- 
joinders, yet  attrnrted  bnt  little  attention  frimi 
the  (Miristian  \rorld.  Patri«>tic  American  ('atho- 
lies  took  but  little  stock  in  the  clamor  of  the 
French  priest,  and  the  matter  was  in  a  fair  way 


lliii 


A  JESUIT  SLANDER. 


235 


to  be  forgotten,  when  interest  was  suddenly  re- 
newed in  the  subject  by  the  appearance  of  an 
executive  document,  No.  38,  35th  (^onoross,  1st 
Session,  signed  J.  Koss  Browne,  Commissioner  of 
Indian  Affairs,  and  dated  at  San  Francisco,  De- 
cember 4,  1867,  whidi  contained  a  few  sentences 
from  J.  Ross  Browne  and  all  of  the  Brouillett 
pamphlet. 

The  idea  of  getting  so  slanderous  a  paper  pub- 
lished as  an  official  public  document  by  the 
United  States  Congress,  was  an  unheard-of  chal- 
lenge that  called  for  a  reply.  And  it  came  prompt- 
ly and  pointedly.  From  all  parts  of  the  country. 
Members  of  Congress  were  flooded  with  letters  to 
find  out  how  such  a  thing  could  be  accomplished. 
Xone  of  them  seemed  able  to  answer.  But  the 
mischief  Avas  done  and  many  of  them  expressed  a 
willingness  to  help  undo  it. 

The  Old  School  and  New  School,  and  the  United 
Presbyterians  in  their  Presbyteries,  resented  the 
outrage,  both  in  the  Far  West  and  in  the  East, 
and  none  more  vigorously  than  did  that  of  the  Illi- 
nois Presbytery  at  the  meeting  in  Chicago  in  1871. 
The  Methodists  and  liuptists  and  Omgregational 
Conferences  in  Oregon  and  Washington,  cordially 
iinittMl  in  the  work,  and  demanded  that  an  a(hiress, 
<lefending  the  Missi(ujaries  and  the  American 
Board,  should  be  p.iuted  just  as  conspicuously  to 


iijl  ^ 

('■•ir'"S, 

;     ■■    ■*»( 

•"'1 

i 


r' 


r 
J' 
jii 


ii 


236 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


tlie  World  as  had  been  the  falsehoods  of  Broiiil- 
lett. 

The  Presbyterian  General  Assenibl}*  at  Chieauo, 
May  18, 1871,  led  by  the  Kev.  F.  A.  Noble,  sumuu^l 
up  the  ease  under  seven  different  counts  of  false- 
hoods, and  demanded  tliat  Congress  shouhl,  in 
simple  justice,  publish  them  in  vindication  of  the 
Protestant  Church.  The  Orc^gon  Presbytery  was 
still  more  positive  and  aggressive  and  made  their 
specifications  under  twelve  heads.  The  Congre- 
gationalists  and  the  Mc^thodists  in  Oregon  were 
equally  pointed  and  positive.  It  resulted  in  "A 
(^(unmittee  on  Protestantism  in  Oregon,"  drawing 
up  a  reply. 

In  this  they  say:  "The  object  of  Brouillett's 
pamphlet  appears  to  bo  to  excul])ate  the  real  iusti- 
gjitors  of  that  terrible  tragedy,  the  massacre  at 
Waiilatpui,  and  to  cast  the  blame  upon  the 
Protestant  Missionaries  who  were  the  victims," 
They  go  on.  to  declare  that  the  paper  "Is  full  of 
glaring  and  infamous  falsehoods,"  and  give  their 
reasons  concisely,  and  wholly  exonerate  Dr. 
Whitman  from  all  blame. 

They  close  their  address  thus:  "With  these 
facts  before  us,  we  would  unite  with  all  lovers  of 
truth  and  justice,  in  earnestly  ix'titioning  Con- 
gress, as  far  as  possible,  to  i*ectify  the  evils  which 
have  resulted  from  the  [Miblication,  as  a  (\)n- 
gressional  Document,  of  the  slanders  of  J.  Ko^s 


i^  i 


(.« 


THE  CHURCHES  AROUSED. 


237 


Browuo,  aud  thus  lift  the  cloud  of  darkues.s  that 
'llaugs  over  the  memory  of  the  rij,4iteous  dead 
and  extend  equal  justice  to  those  avJio  survive.' 
The  Kev.  Dr.  Spalding  prepared  the  matter  and  it 
was  introduced  throuj^h  Secretary  Columbus  De 
lano,  and  the  Indian  Agent,  N.  B.  Meacham,  and 
passed  Congress  as  "Ex-Document  No.  87  of  the 
41st  (;ongress." 

Forty  thousand  copies  were  ordered  printed, 
the  same  as  of  lirouillett's  pamphlet.  It  is  re- 
l)orted  that  less  than  fifty  copies  ever  reached  the 
public.  They  mysteriously  disai)peare(l,  and  no 
one  ever  learned  and  made  public  the  manner  in 
which  it  was  done. 

But  the  incident  developed  the  fact,  that  the 
whole  patriotic  Christian  people  unitedly  de- 
fended Whitman  from  the  charges  made. 


Jl 

I 

i' 

p, 

it«; 

f 

ii    [ 

II 


ilr 


CHAPTER   XII. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.— DR.     MARCUS     WHITMAN     AND     DR. 
JOHN  M-LOUGHLIN. 


Dr.  Marcus  Wliitmaii  wns  a  direct  descendant 
of  John  Whitman  of  ^^\\vnlo^tll,  who  came  from 
I]no:hind  in  the  ship  (\)nti(U^nce,  December,  10:?8. 
Of  him  it  is  recorded  that  he  feared  God,  hat(Ml 
covetousness  and  <lid  ixocn]  continnally  all  the  days 
of  a  lonji"  life. 

Of  the  ])arents  of  Dr.  Whitman,  but  little  has 
been  written.  His  father,  Beza  Whitman,  Avas 
born  in  Bridoewater,  (\)nne''ticnt.  May  18,  1775. 
In  March,  1707,  he  married  Alice  Green,  of  Mum- 
ford,  Connecticut.  Two  years  later,  with  all  of 
their  worldly  j^oods  packed  in  an  ox-cart,  they 
moved  to  Kushrille,  New  York,  Mrs.  Whitman 
makino-  a  larj^e  part  of  the  tedious  journey  on  foot, 
carryinji  her  one-year-(dd  babe  in  her  arms. 

Settled  in  their  new  home,  with  Indians  for  near 
neij>hbors  and  wilderness  all  about  tlxMu,  they 
bejian  the  struii'i^le  for  life,  and  tliou<ih  no  <>'i'<Mt 
success  rewarded  their  efforts,  it  is  known  that 


WHITMAN'S  BIRTH. 


239 


their  doors  ahvavs  swun 


pen  to  the  needy  and 


their  hands  niinister(Ml  to  the  sicl.. 

Mr.  Whitman  died  April  7,  1810,  at  the  early 


an-e  of  35  years,  leaving  h 


^  Ills  yoTino'  wife  to  rear  their 


family  of  four  sons  and  one  Klaiiohter.     Mrs.  ^yhit 


man,  thono-h  not  a  nroft 


professino-  (Christian 


I'eat 


,  was  a 


endurance 


woman   of  much   eneroy    and 
wl.ieh,  combined  with  strono-  Christian  principle 
onabled  her  to  l6ok  well  to  the  ways  of  her  honse- 
hold.     She  lived  to  see  everv  momhor  ..f  u  ..,.  .^^,. 


every  member  of  it  an 


tive  diristian.     8he  died  Septemlx^r    (;th     isr,7 

aj>ed  iO,  and  was  bnrie<l  beside  her  husband  near 

Kushville,  New  York. 
Dr.  Marcus  was  her  second  son,  and  inherited 

from  her  a  sh-ono.  frame  and    or^at   endurance. 

s  pater- 
iiinlield. 


Vfter  his  father's  death  he  was  sent  to  hi 
nal  j-randfather,  Samuel  Whitman,  of  PI 


Massachusetts,  where  1 


10  remained  ten  years  for 
received  a  lib- 


traininj;-  and  education.     There  he 
oral  trainino-  in  the  best  schools  the  pi 
supjdemented  by  a  thoron<'l 


iice  a  ITorded, 
I  course  in  Latin,  and 


10  minister  of  the 


more  a<lvanced  studies  under  tl 
place. 

We  know  litth^  of  the  boyhood  spent  thei,    „, 
we  should  know  little  of  the  whole  life  of  Whit- 
man, had  not  others  lived  to  tell  it,  for  he  neitlu 
told  or  wrote  of  it;  he  was  too  modest  and  t..o  1 


V,  as 


for  that.    But  we  know  it  was  tl.. 
Yankee  boy,  to  bring  the  cows  and 


)Ut'.\ 


lo  usual  life  of 


milk  tl 


H' 


•lUll* 

S'W-^ 

11"  to 

1',  1^, 

i^'i 

ff 

ri  ; 

'*  J 

i 

( 
1 

e 

«  t 


**      I    i: 


{   ',.i 


'I 


I: 


;, 


i 


f 


;■■)() 


i'OW  MARCJS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


cut  the  Avocxl,  sukI  lalov-  to  i)l()W  an<l  how  the  fields, 
us  Ave  afterward  lind  he  knew  how  to  do  all  these 
things.  The  sti'onp,-,  sturdy  boj^  of  ceaseless  ac- 
tivity and  indoniitable  will  who  ioyed  huntinj.; 
and  exi.h)riu«!:,  and  a  touch  of"  wild  life,  must  luiye 
sometimes  j^iven  his  old  .uraiidfather  a  trial  of  his 
mettle,  but  (m  the  whole,  no  doubt,  he  was  a  j;Teat 
C(Uufort  and  help  to  his  declinin<>-  years. 

After  the  (l(\'ith  of  his  «j;Tandfafher,  he  returned 
to  the  home  of  his  mother  in  Kushville.  There 
he  became  a  member  of  the  Congrefj^ational 
Church  at  the  a<'(»  of  nineteen,  and  it  is  said  was 
very  desirous  of  studyin<>-  for  the  ministry,  but  by 
a  long  illness,  and  the  persuasion  of  friends,  was 
turned  from  his  ])urpose  to  the  study  of  medicine. 

He  took  a  three  years'  course,  and  graduated 
at  Fairfield,  in  1824.  He  first  went  to  Canada, 
where  he  practiced  his  profession  for  four  years, 
then  came  back  to  his  lumie,  determined  again  to 
take  u])  the  study  for  the  ministry,  but  was  again 
frustrated  in  his  design,  and  practiced  his  profes- 
sion f(;ur  years  more  in  Wheeler,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
was  a  member  and  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  lie  and  a  brother  also  owned  a  saw-mi'' 
near  there,  where  he  assisted  in  his  spare  hours, 
and  so  learned  another  trade  that  was  most  use- 
ful to  him  in  later  life.  In  fact,  as  we  see  his  envi- 
ronments in  his  Missitm  Station  in  Oregon,  tlies<' 


WHITMAN'S  PROSPERITY  ANGERS  THE  INDIANS.  241 

hard  lossons  of  his  oarlior  yonrs  soem  to  liave  bcon 
in  the  host  souse  of  the  word,  educational 

Witli  bnt  littl<'  iH^lp,  1,0  ojxMUMl  up  and  cnlli- 
vated  a  -roat  fann,  and  built  a  -nst-inill  and  u 
snw-niill,  and  when    his    oHst-niill    was    bnrne<l 
bnilt  another,  and,  at  the  san.e  tin,e,  attendcMl  U> 
his  professional  duties  that  covered  a  wiiU'  dis- 
trict.    It  was  the  wonder  of  every  visitor  to  the 
Mission  how  one  man,  with  so  few  helpcM-s    ac- 
complished so  much.     At  the  time  of  the  massaciv 
the  main  building  of  the  Mission  was  <m(>  hundred 
feet  in  the  front,  with  an  L  runnii,.-  back  s^Menly 
fi-t^  and  part  of  it  two  stories  hin],.     Every  vi.s- 
itor  remarked  on  the  cleanliness  and  comfort  and 
thrift  which  everywhere  appeared. 

There  are  men  who,  with  jrreat'  incentives,  have 
accomplishe<l  -reat  things,  but  were  utter  failings 
when  It  came  to  practical,  everj-dav  duti(^s.     Dr. 
\\  hitman,  with  a  genius  to  conceive,  and  the  will 
and  eneroy  to  carry  out  the  most  difficult  and  dar- 
mo-  undertaking,  was  just  as  faithful  and  efficient 
in  the  little  things  that  made  up  the  comforts  of 
his  wilderlH^ss  home.     Seeing  these  grand  results 
—the  commodious  house,  the  increase  in  the  herds 
and  the  stacks  of  grain— seems  to  have  only  an- 
gered his  lazy,  thriftless  Indians,  and  thev  began 
to  make  demands  for  a  division  of  his  wealth.  "" 

Dr.  Whitman  has  been  accused  of  holding  his 
Indians  to  a  too  strict  moral  acc.mntabilitv;  that 


W:l 


*i- 


!»riit(    '  ■ 

'"HI 

■5i»  ■ 


i«i 


III 


242         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

it  would  have  been  wiser  to  have  been  more  le- 
nient, and  Avinked  at,  rather  than  denounced,  some 
of  their  .savaj>e  ways.  Those  who  have  carefully 
studied  the  man,  know  how  impossible  it  wouhl 
have  been  for  him,  in  any  seeminjij  way,  to  con- 
done a  crime,  or  to  purchase  peace  with  the  crimi- 
nal bj^  a  bribe.  This  was  the  method  of  the  Hud- 
son Bay  Company,  and  was  doubtless  the  cheap 
way. 

By  a  series  of  events  and  environments,  he 
seems  to  have  been  trained  much  as  Moses  was, 
but  Avith  wholly  different  surround inj;s  from  those 
of  the  great  Lawgiver,  whose  lirst  training  was  in 
the  Royal  Court  and  the  schools  of  Egypt;  tlien 
in  its  army;  then  an  outcast,  and  as  a  shepherd, 
guiding  his  flocks,  and  finding  springs  and  pas- 
turage in  the  land  wliere,  one  day,  he  was  to  lead 
ills  pe()])l(>. 

King  David  is  another  man  made  strong  in  the 
school  of  preparation.  As  he  watched  his  flocks 
on  the  Judean  hills,  he  fought  the  lion  and  the 
bear,  and  so  was  not  afraid  to  meet  and  fight  a 
giant,  who  defied  the  armies  of  the  living  God.  It 
was  there,  under  the  stars,  that  he  practiced  music 
to  quiet  a  mad  king,  and  was  educated  into  a  fit- 
ness to  organize  the  great  choirs,  and  furnish  the 
grand  anthems  for  the  tem])le  worship.  After 
this,  in  self-defense,  he  became  the  commander  of 


TRAINED  FOR  HIS  WORK.  243 

lawless  bauds  of  men,  an<l  so  was  trained  to  com- 
mand the  armies  of  Lsracl. 

80  it  has  been  in  our  own  Nation,  with  Wash- 
inj>ton  and  Lineoln,  and  Grant  and  (lartield;  they 
had  to  pass  Ihionoh  many  hardships,  and  receive 
a  many-sided  training-  before  tliey  were  fitted  for 
the  greater  work  to  which  tliey  were  cPlied.     So 
it  was,  tliis  strong?,  conscientious,  sGaiewhat  rest- 
,less  young-  man  was  being  traiiu-d  for  tlie  lifc^  (liat 
was  to  folk)w.     Tlie  farDu-r  boy,    planting    and 
reaping,  the  miUwriglit  planning  and  building, 
the  country  doctor  ,,n  his  hmg,  Umi^]y  rides,  tiu' 
religious  teacher  who  must  oversee  the  physical 
and  spiritual  wants  of  his  fellow  church  members, 
all  were  needed  in  the  larger  life  for  which  he  was 
longing  and  looking,  when  the  sad  appeal  for  tlie 
"Book  of  Life"  came  from  the  Indian  Chiefs  who 
had  come  so  far,  and  faik  1  to  find  it.  Ills  im- 
uiediate  and  hearty  response  was,  "Here  am  I,  sen<l 
me!" 

Dr.  Marcus  Whitman,  judged  by  his  life  as  a 
Missionary,  must  ev<^r  be  given  due  credit;  for  no 
man  ever  gave  evidence  of  greater  d(H'otion  to  the 
work  he  found  lo  do.  lie  was  doubtless  excelled 
as  a  teacher  of  the  Indians  by  many  of  his  co-labor- 
ers. He  was  not,  perh?;.])s,  even  eminent  as  a 
teacher.  His  great  reputation  and  the  honor  due 
him,  does  not  rest  upon  such  a  claim,  but  upon  his 
wisdom  in  seeing  the  future  of  the  Great  West, 


111 ''lift 
!IM-Il 


i,  .  ili 


•l 


'.».     i 


•  'l''^ 

1  '^^1 

''^^  "\ 

'^^B 

1 

:■['" 

^H 

IjgHg 

t" 

1 

'  -u 

( 

■ 

I  '^  :r 


244         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


*1 


'» 


iD'tl 


i.   ; 


I 


'! 


I|!P' 


jind  his  heroic  rosciie  of  the  hind  from  a  foroijjjii 
ruk>.  That  he  heard  a  call  to  the  duty  from  a 
hi«;her  source  than  any  earthly  i>otentate,  none  but 
the  skeptic  will  doubt.  The  act  stands  (mt  clear 
and  bold  and  strong-,  as  one  of  the  finest  instances 
of  unseltish  patriotism  recorded  in  all  history. 


DR.  JOHN  M'LOUGHLIN. 


Any  sketch  of  pioneer  ()re;j,<m  would  be  incom- 
plete without  an  honorable  mention  of  Dr.  John 
McLou<ihliu.  He  was  the  Chief  Factor  of  the 
Hudson  Bay  Coujpany,  an  or<»anization  inimical  t(> 
American  interests,  both  for  pecuniary  and  i)oliti- 
cal  reasons,  and  like  Whitman,  has  been  maliinned 
and  misunderstood.  As  the  leadinji;  spirit,  diirin<i; 
all  the  staj^es  of  pioneer  life,  his  life  and  acts  have 
an  ini])ortance  second  to  none.  Xolhini;  couhl 
have  been  more  important  for  the  comfort   and 


l)t 


ace  of  the  Missionaries  than  to  have  had  a  uian 


as  Supreme  liuhu'  of  (^re^on,  with  so  keen  a  sense 
of  justice,  as  had  Dr.  Mcliouj^hlin. 

IMivsicallv  he  was  a  line  siu'cimeu  of  a  man.  !!<' 
was  six  feet,  four  inches,  and  weli-pro])or(ion<'d. 
His  bushy  while  hair  and  massive  beard,  caused 
the  Indians  everywhere  (o  call  him,  the  "(Jreat 
While  Head  diief." 

He  was  born  in  17S4,  and  was  eiy;hle«'n  years 


DR.  M'LOUGHLIN. 


older  (Jiau  Dr.  Wliitmaii.     IIo  oiitoml  the  N 
wofstern  Fur  (Niiupauy's  werv 


245 


ortli- 


ward  studied  modiciuo,  and  for  a  t 
liKS  ju-ofcssion   but  his  line  1 


iceiulSOO.     Jloafter- 
imo  pracficcMl 


)iisiii(>ss  abilities  were 


so  ai»i)ai-ent,  that  in  1821  we  tind  him  at  liie  head 
of  affjiiivs  in  Oreoon.  J I  is  pmyov  over  (he  roiii-h 
men  iu  tbeeniphn  of  (lie  (Vunpanv,  and  tl 


tribes  who  tilled  their  coif 


le  savaii-e 


complete  as  to  be  phenomenal. 


ers  with  wealth,  was  so 


In  many  of  the  sketchc 


kindness  to  the  pioneer  Missionari 
and  ji  hi<;lier  sense,  proved  h 


s  we  have  sliown  that  hi: 


es  in  another 


lis  manhood.     To  ob 


the  orders  of  his  conipanv,  and  still  KMiiain  a  hu- 
mane man,  was  somethinj;  tJiat  required  (act  that 
few  men  could  hav(^  brou-ht  to  bear  as  well  as  Dr. 
MrLou-hlin.  While  he  <|i<l  slau-hter,  linaurially 
<j>eakino-,  traders  and  fur  gatherers  rioht  ami  left, 

e  pecuniary  interests 
M're,  and 


and  did  his  best  to  serve  tli 


of  hi 


H  jjjreat  nnmoixdy,  he  drew  the  lirM-  ll 


le  uiissioriarieM. 


was  the  friend  and  the  helper  of  tl 

If  the  reader  could  j-lance  throu-li  Mrs.  \Vi»it 
man's  diary  upon  the  very  oi)eniiio  ^v,.,.|^  „f  in.^, 
arrival  in  Ore.uon,  there  would  not  be  found  anv- 


lliiiiju;-  but  words  of  kiml 

McLouj^hlin.    In  justice  to  hi 

he  was  always  loyal,  lie  pushed  the  Mel  hod 


sionsfaruptheWillamett 


less  and  gratitude  to  Dr. 

s  c(uui»aiiy,  to  whicji 

ist  mis- 


lean  Hoard  three  hundred  mil 


e,  and  thoseuf  t  he  Amer- 


es  in  another  dir(»c 


tiou.     Hut  at  (he  same  time  he  was  a  friend  and 


',;:* 


1 

1 

m 

.   .1! 

^  / 

$ 


i: 


II'        . 
J       1 


ii'i 


u 


1  "    ii 


246        HOW  MARCITS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

brother  and  adviser,  and  anytliinu'  he  liad  was  at 
their  service,  whether  they  had  ni<»ne\  or  not. 

After  the  im  mi  juration  iu  1842,  and  the  hir<;er 
ininiiuration  led  bv  Whitman  iu  1843,  the  com- 


pany 


in  Enuiand  became  alarmed  and  sent  out 


spies — IMessrs.  l*ark,  Vavasaur  and  Peel,  who  \ven» 
enjoined  to  lind  ont  whether  Mclionjihlin  was 
loyal  to  British  interests.  After  many  montlis 
spent  in  stndyinji'  the  situation,  their  adverse  re- 
port is  easily  inferred  from  the  fact  that  Dr.  Me- 
Loufi'hlin  was  ordered  to  re])ort  to  headcpiarters. 
The  full  history  of  that  secret  invest iiiiit Ion  has 
never  yet  been  revealed,  but  when  it  is,  the  whole 
blame  will  be  found  restinu;-  upon  Av'hitman  and 
his  missionary  co-workers,  who  wrested  tiie  land 
friMu  l']n«;llsh  rule,  and  that  Dr.  McLoujjjhlin  aid<'(l 
t'uMn  to  success. 

When  the  charj;e  of  "Friendship  to  the  mission- 
ai'ies,"  was  made,  th(»  old  doctor  tiared  np  an<l  re- 
])lied:  "What  wonld  you  have?  Would  you  have 
me  turn  the  c(dd  shoulder  on  the  men  of  (lod  who 
came  to  do  that  for  the  Indians  which  this  com- 
]>any  has  nejilected  to  d(>?  If  we  had  not  helped 
the  immitirants  in  '42  and  U:}  and  '44,  and  relieved 
their  neeessities.  Fort  Vancouver  would  have 
been  destroyed  and  the  world  would  have  treated 
us  as  our  inhuman  conduct  deserved;  (wery  <»lTic<»r 
of  the  Company,  from  (Jovernor  down,  would  have 


INGRATITUDE  OF  THE  HUDSON  BAY  CO. 


Ml 


been    covered  with  obloijiiy,  uud    the  Company's 
business  ruined!" 

But  it  all  resulted  in  the  resij;nation  of  Dr.  Mc- 
Louj'hliu.  The  injustice  he  received  at  the  hands 
of  Americans  afterward,  is  deeply  to  be  rej^retted, 
and  it  is  jjjreatly  to  the  credit  of  the  thinking;  peo- 
ple of  the  State  of  Oregon  that  they  have  done 
their  best  to  remedy  the  wronj;-.  At  many  limes, 
and  in  a  multitude  of  ways,  Dr.  McLou<;hlin,  by  his 
kindness  to  the  ndssionnries,  won  for  himself  the 
j'-ratitude  of  thinking-  Americans  in  all  the  years 
to  come.  Witha  l>ad  man  in  his  phice  its  Chief  Fac- 
tor, the  old  missionaries  would  liave  found  lif<'  in 
Oregon  w<'ll-ni<j,h  unl>eiirable.  While  true  to  the 
exclusive  and  selfish  interests  of  the  j^reat  mo- 
nojMdy  he  served,  he  yet  refused  to  resort  to  any 
form  of  nnmanliness. 

After  his  abuse  by  the  English  ccnnpany  and  his 
severance  of  all  connection  with  it,  he  setlh'd  at 
Oren'on  City  and  lived  and  <lie(i  an  American  citi- 
zen. The  tonj;ue  of  shnwh'r  was  freely  waj^^i'd 
against  him,  and  his  declining,'  years  were  made 
misei-ablc  by  unlhinkinji'  Americans  and  revenji*- 
ful  liUjilishmen.  His  j>r(>j>crty,  <»f  which  he  Imd 
been  depiive<l,  was  returned  t(>  his  heirs,  iiiid  to- 
day his  memory  is  cherished  as  amonj;'  Orcj^on's 
beiH'factors.  A  tine  oil  paint injx  of  Dr.  McLou^ih- 
lin  was  secured  and  ])aid  for  by  the  old  pioneers 
Jiud  presented  to  the  State. 


n 


h 


I. 
H 

m 

H 


248         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


ii 

I 


i' 


1.1 


! 


The  rion.  Jobii  Minto,  in  inakiiijij  the  a^ldrcss  at 
the  hansinjjf  of  the  picture,  closed  with  these 
words: 

"111  this  sad  suniinary  of  such  a  life  as  Dr.  Mc- 
L()uj»iiliu's,  there  is  a  statement  that  merits  our 
attention,  whieli,  if  ever  proven  true,  and  no  man 
wlio  ever  knew  Dr.  McLouj«lilin  will  doubt  that  he 
believed  it  true,  namely,  that  he  prevented  war 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States,  will 
show  that  Uvo  of  the  greatest  nations  on  this  earth 
owe  him  a  debt  of  oratitude,  and  that  Orejion,  in 
particular,  is  doubly  bound  to  him  as  a  jiublic  ben- 
efactor. British  state  papers  may  some  day  prove 
all  this. 

"It  is  noAv  twenty-six  years  since  the  Legislative 
Assembly  of  the  State  of  Oregon,  so  far  as  restora- 
tion of  property  to  Dr.  McLouohlin's  family  c mid 
undo  the  wron«>-  of  Oreo-on's  Land  Bill,  oave  j-lad- 
iiess  to  the  heart  of  every  Oreji>-on  pion<M»r  worthy 
of  the  name.  All  of  them  yet  livinji',  now  know 
that,  «4(K)d  mail  as  they  believed  him,  he  was  bet- 
ter than  they  knew.  They  see  him  now,  aflor  the 
strife  and  jeah.iisies  of  race,  national,  business, 
and  sectarian  interests  are  allayed,  standinj;'  in 
the  center  of  all  these  causes  of  contention — a  po- 
sition in  wliich  to  ]deaseall  parties  was  im]>ossible, 
to  'Maintain  which,  <mly  a  j-ood  man  c(mld  bear 
with  i)atience' — and  they  have  ado])ted  this  means 
of  conveying'  theiv  appreciation  of  this  ;?reat  for- 


I'.iil'i 

,1   1 

:l 

I'.:  Ik* 

'  ■ 

't 

•J 

■  •  i 

IS, 

I  Hit 


DR.  JOHN  McLOUGHLIN, 
Chief  Factor  of  Hudson  Bay  Co.,  at  Fort  Walla  Walla. 


u 


•i    i 


JUSTICE  AT  LAST. 


249 


bearance  and  patient  endurance,  combined  with 
his  generous  conduct. 

"Lookino-,  then,  at  this  line  of  action  in  the 
light  of  the  merest  glimpses  of  history,  known  to 
be  true  by  witnesses  living,  can  any  honest  man 
wonder  that  the  pioneers  of  Oregon,  who  have 
eaten  the  salt  of  this  man's  hospitality,  who  have 
been  the  eye-witnesses  to  his  brave  care  for  hu- 
manity, and  participators  in  his  generous  aid,  are 
unwilling  to  go  to  their  graves  in  silence— which 
would  imply  base  ingratitude— a  silence  which 
Avould  be  el(K]uent  with  falsehood? 

"Governor  and  Representatives  of  Oregon:    In 
recognition  of  the  worthy  manner  in  which  Dr. 
John  xMcLoughlin  filled  his  trying  and  responsible 
position,  in  the  heartfelt  glow  of  a  grateful  re- 
membrance of  his  humane  and  noble  conduct  to 
them,  the  Oregon  pioneers  leave  this  portrait  with 
you,  hoping  that  their  descendants  will  not  for- 
get the  friend  .' f  theii-  fathers,  and  trusting  that 
this  gift  of  the  men  and  women  who  led  the  ad- 
vance which  has  planted  thirty  thousand  rifles 
in  the  Valley  of  the  (V)lumbia,  and  three  hundred 
tlnnisand,  when  needed,  in  the  National  Domain 
facing  the  Vacific  Ocean,  will  be  deemed  worthy  of 
a  place  in  your  halls." 


il 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


WHITMAN  SEMINARY  AND   COLLEGE. 


Many  institutions  of  learning  have  been  erected 
and  endowed  by  the  generosity  of  the  rich,  bnt 
Wliitnian  Seminary  and  Tollege  had  its  founda- 
tion laid  in  faith  and  prayer.  Viewed  from  a 
worldly  stand])oint,  backed  only  by  a  poor  mission- 
ary, whose  possessions  could  be  packed  upon  the 
back  of  a  male,  the  outlook  did  not  seem  promis- 
ing?. Durino-  all  the  yenrs  of  his  missionary  serv- 
ice in  Ore<.>()n,  none  knew  better  the  value  of  the 
patriotic  (Miristian  service  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Whit- 
man, than  did  the  llev.  Dr.  rusliin«>;  Eells  and  his 
o'ood  wife.  After  the  massacre,  Dr.  Eells,  and  all 
his  co-workers  were  moved  u!ider  military  escort 
to  the  Willamette,  but  he  writes: 

"My  eyes  were  constantly  turned  east  of  the  Cas- 
cade Kanj^e,  a  rej>ion  I  have  j;'iven  the  best  years 
of  my  life  to." 

It  was  not  until  1859  when  the  country  was  do- 
clared  open,  that  he  visited  Walla  Walla,  and 


DR.  GUSHING  EELLS. 


261 


Stood  at  the  "(Jivat  grave  of  Dr.  Wliitinaii  and  his 
wife."  Standing  there  upon  the  consecrated  spot, 
he  says: 

"I  believe  that  the  power  of  the  Highest  came 
upon  me."  And  there  he  fjolemnly  vowed  that  he 
wouhl  do  something  to  honor  the  Christian  mar- 
tyrs whose  remains  rested  in  that  grave.  He  says : 
"I  felt  as  though  if  Dr.  Whitman  were  alive,  he 
would  prefer  a  high  school  for  the  benefit  of  both 
sexes,  rather  than  a  monument  of  marble." 

He  pondere<l  the  subject  and  upon  reaching 
home,  sought  the  advice  of  the  Congregational 
Association.  The  subject  was  carefully  canvassed 
by  those  who  well  knew  all  the  sad  history,  and 
the  following  note  was  entered  upon  the  record: 

"In  the  judgment  of  this  association,  the  con- 
templated purpose  of  Brother  C.  Eells  to  remove 
to  ^Vaiilatpui,  to  establish  a  Christian  school  at 
that  place,  to  be  called  the  Whitman  Seminary, 
in  memory  of  the  noble  deeds  and  great  works  and 
the  fulfillment  of  the  benevolent  plans  of  the  late 
lamented  Dr.  Whitman  and  his  wife:  And  his 
{iirllier  purpose  to  act  as  home  missionary  in  the 
Walhi  Walla  Valley,  meets  our  cordial  approba- 
tion and  shall  receive  our  earnest  suj^port." 

Dr.  Eells  at  once  resigned  from  the  Tualitin 
Academy,  where  he  was  then  teaching,  and  in  1850 
and  '(10  obtained  the  charter  for  the  Whitman 
Seminary.    Dr.  Eells  had  hopt^l  to  be  employed  by 


rtwn 


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252        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

the  Home  Missionary  Society,  but  that  oroaniza- 
tion  declined,  as  its  object  was  not  to  build  semi- 
naries and  collej»es,  but  to  establish  chur(^ies.  He 
bouo-ht  from  the  American  Board  for  |1,000  the 
farm  of  640  acres  where  Dr.  Whitman  had  toiled 
for  eleven  years. 

It  was  Dr.  Eells'  idea  to  build  a  seminary  di- 
rectly upon  this  consecrated  ground,  and  gather 
a  quiet  settlement  about  th^  school.  But  he  soon 
found  that  it  would  be  better  to  locate  the  semi- 
nary '•  ^he  village,  at  that  time  made  up  of  five 
reside.  nulies  and  about  one  hundred  men.  It, 
howevex,  .vas  in  sight  of  the  "Great  grave." 

Here  the  Eells  family  settled  down  upon  the 
farm  for  hard  work  to  raise  the  funds  necessary 
to  erect  the  buildings  necessary  for  the  seminary. 
He  preached  without  compensation  up  and  down 
the  valley  upon  the  Sabbath,  and  like  Paul,  worked 
with  his  hands  during  the  week.  His  first  Sum- 
mer's work  on  the  farm  brought  in  |700;  enough 
nearly  to  pay  three-fourths  of  its  cost;  thus  year 
after  year  Dr.  Eells  and  his  faithful  wife  labored 
on  and  on.  He  plowed  and  reaped,  and  cut  cord 
wood,  while  she  made  butter,  and  raised  chickens 
and  saved  every  dollar  for  the  one  grand  purpose 
of  doing  honor  to  their  noble  friends  in  the  "Great 
grave"  always  in  sight. 

Tiarely  in  this  world  has  there  been  a  more 
beautiful  demonstration  of  loyalty  and  friendship. 


I  -(' 


FOUNDING  WHITMAN  COLLEGE. 


253 


than  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Eells.  They  lived  and  labored 
on  the  farm  for  ten  years,  and  endured  all  the  pri- 
vations and  isolations  common  to  such  a  life.  An 
article  in  the  "Congrejrationalist"  says: 

"Mother  Eells'  churn  with  whicli  she  made  four 
hundred  pounds  of  butter  for  sale,  ouoht  to  be 
kept  for  an  honored  place  in  the  cabinet  of  Whit- 
man College." 

It  was  by  such  sacrifices  that  the  first  |4,000 
were  raised  to  begin  the  buildings.  Five  years  had 
passed  after  tlie  charter  was  granted,  before  the 
seminary  was  located,  and  then  only  on  paper. 
And  this  was  seven  years  before  the  completion  of 
the  first  school  building;  the  de<lication  of  which 
occurred  on  October  13,  1800. 

The  first  principal  was  tlie  Kev.  P.  B.  Chamber- 
lain, who  also  organized  and  was  first  pastor  of 
the  Congregational  Church  ac  Walla  ^.Valla.  In 
1880,  under  the  new  impulse  given  to  the  work  by 
the  Kev.  Dr.  G.  II.  Atkinson,  of  Portland,  Whit- 
man Seminary  developed  into  Whitman  College. 
This  was  finally  accomplished  in  1883.  Dui'ng 
that  year,  College  Hall  was  erected  at  a  cost  o^f 
110,000.  During  1883  and  1884,  in  the  same  spirit 
he  had  at  all  times  exhibited.  Dr.  Eells  felt  it  his 
duty  to  visit  New  England  in  the  interest  of  the 
institution.    He  says: 

"It  was  the  hardest  year's  work  I  ever  did,  to 
raise  that  sixteen  thousand  dollars." 


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33  WEST  MAIN  STRUT 

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254        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


The  old  pioDeer  would  miitii  rather  have  cut 
cord  wood  or  plowed  his  fields,  if  that  would  have 
brought  in  the  money  for  his  loved  college.  The 
Christian  who  reads  Dr.  Eells'  diary  during  the 
closing  years  of  his  life,  will  easily  see  how  de- 
voted he  was  to  the  work  of  honoring  the  mem- 
ory of  the  occupants  of  the  "Great  grave."  His 
diary  of  May  24,  1890,  says: 

"The  needs  of  Whitnian  College  cause  serious 
thought.  My  convictions  have  been  that  my  ef- 
forts in  its  behalf  were  in  obedience  to  Divine 
Will." 

June  11,  1800.  "During  intervals  of  the  night 
I  was  exercised  in  prayer  for  Whitman  College.  I 
am  persuaded  that  my  prayers  are  prevailing.  In 
agony  I  pray  for  Whitman  College." 

October  2d.  "Dreamed  of  Whitman  College  and 
awoke  with  a  prayer." 

1  lis  last  entry  in  his  diary  was:  "I  could  die  for 
Whitman  (^)llege." 

Tlie  grand  old  man  went  to  his  great  reward  in 
February,  18J>;i.  Will  the  Christian  pe(»ple  «»f  the 
land  allow  such  a  prayer  to  go  unanswered? 

In  1884  Mrs.  N.  F.  Cobh'igh  did  some  very  effect- 
ive work  in  canvassing  sections  of  New  Enghind 
in  behalf  of  the  college,  succeeding  in  raising 
18,000. 

Dr.  Anderson,  after  his  <  fficient  labcu's  of  nine 
years,  with  many  discouragements,  resigned  the 


THE  NEEDS  OF  THE  COLLEGE. 


255 


Presidency  in  1891,  and  the  Kev.  James  F.  Eaton, 
another  scholarly  earnest  man,  assumed  its  duties. 
In  the  meantime  the  struggling  village  ol  Walla 
Walla  had  grown  into  the  "Garden  City,"  and  the 
demands  upon  such  an  institution  had  increased 
a  hundred  fold  in  the  rapid  development  of  the 
country  in  every  direction.  The  people  began  to 
see  the  wisdom  of  the  founder,  and  cast  about  for 
means  to  make  the  college  more  efficient.  The 
Union  Journal  of  Walla  Walla,  said: 

"It  is  our  pride.  It  is  the  cap  sheaf  of  the  edu- 
cational  institutions  of  Walla  Walla,  and  should 
be  the  pride  and  boast  of  every  good  Walla  Wal- 
lan.  It  has  a  corps  of  exceptionally  good  instruct- 
ors, under  the  guidance  of  a  man  possessing 
breadth  of  intellect,  liberal  education  and  an  en- 
thusiastic desire  to  be  successful  in  his  chosen 
field  of  labor,  with  students  who  rank  in  natural 
ability  with  the  best  product  of  any  land.  But  it 
is  deficient  in  facilities.  It  lacks  room  in  which  to 
grow.  It  lacks  library  and  apparatus,  the  tools  of 
educati(m." 

President  Eaton  and  the  faculty  saw  this  need 
and  the  necessity  of  a  great  effort.  It  was  under 
this  pressure,  and  the  united  desire  of  the  friends 
of  the  college  that  the  Kev.  Stephen  B.  L.  Penrose, 
of  the  "Yale  baud"  assunuMl  the  duties  of  Presi- 
dent in  181)4,  and  began  his  plans  to  raise  an  en- 
dowment fund  and  place  the  college  upon  a  sound 


m 


256         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON, 

financial  basis,  as  well  as  to  increase  its  educa- 
tional facilities  and  requirements. 

It  was  the  misfortune  of  these  educators  to 
enter  the  field  for  money  at  a  time  of  great  finan- 
cial embarrassment,  such  as  has  not  been  experi 
enced  in  many  decades;  but  it  was  at  the  same 
time  their  good  fortune  to  enlist  the  aid  of  Dr.  D. 
K.  Pearsons  of  Chicago  in  the  grand  work  with  a 
generous  gift  of  |50,000,  provided  that  others 
could  be  induced  to  add  |150,000  to  it. 

With  such  a  start  and  with  such  a  man  as  Dr. 
Pearsons,  there  will  be  no  such  word  as  fail.  He  is 
a  man  of  faith  like  Dr.  Eells  and  has  long  been  ad- 
ministering upon  his  own  estate  in  wise  and  gen- 
erous gifts  to  deserving  institutions.  With  such  a 
man  to  encourage  other  liberal  givers,  the  endow- 
ment will  not  stop  at  |200,000.  If  Whitman  Col- 
lege is  to  be  the  Yale  and  Harvard  and  Chicago 
University  of  the  Far  West,  it  must  meet  with  a 
generous  response  from  liberal  givers.  Its  name 
alone  ought  to  be  worth  a  million  in  money.  When 
the  people  are  educated  in  Whitman  histoi-y,  the 
money  will  come  and  the  prayers  of  Dr.  Eells  will 
be  answered. 

The  uiillioni^  of  people  love  fair  play  and  honest 
dealing  and  can  appreciate  solid  work,  and  they 
will  learn  to  loA-e  the  meiiKtry  of  the  modest  liero, 
and  will  be  glad  to  do  him  honor  in  so  practical 
a  method.    It  will  soon  be  half  a  century  since 


1',      I   ! 


WHITMAN'S  NAME  WILL  LIVE. 


257 


Dr.  Whitman  and  his  noble  wife  fell  at  their  post 
of  duty  at  Waiilatpui.  Had  Dr.  Whitman  been  a 
millionaire,  a  man  of  noble  birth,  had  he  been 
a  military  man  or  a  statesman,  his  praise  would 
have  been  sung  upon  historic  pages  as  the  praise 
of  others  has.  But  he  was  only  a  poor  mission- 
ary doctor,  who  lost  his  life  in  the  vain  effort  to 
civilize  and  Christianize  savages,  and  an  army  of 
modern  historians  seem  to  have  thought,  as  we 
have  shown  in  another  chapter,  that  the  world 
would  s'-t  quietly  by  and  see  and  applaud  while 
they  robbed  him  of  his  richly  won  honors.  In  that 
they  have  over-reached  themselves.  The  name  of 
Dr.  Marcus  W^hitnmn  will  be  honored  and  re- 
vered long  after  the  names  of  his  traducers  have 
been  obliterated  and  forgotten. 

It  is  a  name  with  a  history,  which  will  grow  in 
honor  and  importance  as  the  great  States  he 
saved  to  the  Union  will  grow  into  the  grandeur 
they  naturally  assume.  There  is  not  a  clearer 
page  of  history  in  all  the  books  than  that  Dr. 
Whitman,  under  the  leading  of  Providence,  saved 
the  States  of  Oregon,  W\nshington  and  Idaho  to 
the  Union.  There  is  a  possibility  that  by  a  long 
and  destructive  war  we  might  have  held  them  as 
against  the  claims  of  England.  There  were  just 
two  men  who  prevented  that  war  and  those  two 
men  were  Drs.  Whitman  and  Mcl.oughlin.  The 
latter   iudireclly    by   his   humane   and    civilized 


I 


258        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

treatment  of  the  missionaries  when  he  miijht  have 
crushed  them,  and  the  fornier  by  his  unparallek^l 
heroism  in  his  mid- winter  ride  to  Washinf>ton,  and 
his  wisdom  in  pih)ting'  the  immigrations  to  Oregon 
just  the  3'ear  that  he  did. 

History  correctly  written,  will  truthfully  say, 
"When  Whitman  fell  at  Waiilatpui,  one  of  the 
grandest  heroes  of  this  century  went  to  his  great 
reward."  The  State  of  Washington  has  done  Avell 
to  name  a  great  county  to  perpetuate  his  mem- 
ory; Dr.  Eells  did  a  noble  act  in  founding  Whit- 
man Seminary,  and  the  time  is  coming  and  is  near 
at  hand,  when  the  young  men  and  women  of  the 
country  will  prize  a  diploma  inscribed  with  the 
magic  name  of  Whitman.  Endow  the  college  and 
endow  it  generously.  Make  it  worthy  of  the  man 
whose  love  of  country  felt  that  no  task  was  too 
difficult  and  no  danger  so  great  as  to  make  him 
hesitate. 

After  the  endowment  is  full  and  complete,  a 
great  College  Hall  should  be  erected  from  a  pa- 
triotic fund,  and  upon  the  central  pillar  should 
be  inscribed:  "Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Dr. 
Marcus  and  Narcissa  Whitman.  While  lifting  up 
the  banner  of  the  cross  in  one  hand  to  redeem  and 
save  savage  souls,  they  thought  it  no  wrong  t<» 
carry  the  flag  f)f  the  country  they  loved  in  the 
other." 

There  is  no  such  thing  as  dividing  the  honors. 


mi  !^! 


EQUAL  HONOR  DUE  DK.  AND  MRS.  WHITMAN.    259 

They  are  simply  Whitman  honors;  they  lived  and 
labored  and  achieved  to-ether;    the  bride  upon 
the  plains  and  in  the  mission  home  was  a  heroine 
scarcely  second  to  the  hero  who  swam  icy  rivers 
and  climbed  the  snow-covered  mountains  in  1842 
and  1843,  up<in  his  patriotic  mission.    It  is  a  work 
tliat  may  well   enjrage  the  patriotic  women  of 
America;   for  true  womanhood  has  never  had  a 
more  beautiful  setting  than  in  the  life  of  Narcissa 
Whitman.    At  the  death,  by  droA-ning,  of  her  only 
child,  that  she  almost  idolized,  she  bowed  huniblv 
and  said:    "Thy  Will  be  done!"    And  upon  the  da^ 
of  her  death,  she  was  mother  to  eleven  helpless 
adopted  children,  for  whose  safety  she  prayed  in 
her  expiring  moments. 

What  an  unselfish  life  she  led.  In  her  diary 
she  says,  but  in  no  complaining  mood:  "Situ- 
ated as  we  are,  our  house  is  the  Missionaries' 
tavern,  and  we  must  accommodate  more  or  less 
all  the  time.  We  have  no  less  than  seven  families 
in  our  two  houses;  we  are  in  peculiar  and  some- 
what  trying  circumstances;    we  cannot  sell   to 

them  because  we  are  missionaries  and  not  trad- 
ers." 

And  we  see  by  the  record  that  there  were  no 
less  than  seventy  souls  in  the  Whitman  family  the 
day  of  the  massacre. 

Emerson  says:  "Heroism  is  an  obedience  to  a 
secret  impulse  of  individual  character,  and  the 


,   I 


260 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


characteristics  of  genuine  heroism  is  its  persist- 
ency." 

Where  was  it  ever  more  strongly  marlved  than 
in  Dr.  Whitman?  We  are  told  that  "History  re- 
peats itself."  Going  back  upon  the  historic  pages, 
one  can  find  the  best  illustration  of  Dr.  Whitman 
in  faithful  old  Caleb.  Their  lives  seem  to  run 
along  similar  lines.  Both  were  sent  to  spy  out  the 
land.  Both  returned  and  made  true  and  faith- 
ful reports.  Both  were  selected  for  their  great 
physical  fitness,  and  for  their  fine  mental  and 
moral  worth;  and  both  proved  among  the  finest 
specimens  of  unselfish  manhood  ever  recorded. 
Turning  to  the  Sacred  Record  we  read  that  a  great 
honor  was  ordered  for  Caleb;  not  only  that  he 
was  permitted  to  enter  the  promised  land,  but  it 
was  also  understood  by  all,  that  he  should  have 
the  choice  of  all  the  fair  country  they  were  to  oc- 
cupy. His  associates  sent  with  him  forty  years 
before  were  terribly  afraid  of  "the  giants,"  and 
now  they  had  reached  "The  land  of  promise,"  and 
Joshua  had  assembled  the  leaders  of  Israel  to  as- 
sign them  their  places.  Just  notice  old  Caleb. 
Standing  in  view  of  the  meadows  and  fields  and 
orchards,  loaded  with  their  rich  clusters  of  purple 
grapes,  everybody  expected  he  would  select  the 
best,  for  they  kncAV  that  it  was  both  promised  and 
he  deserved  it;  but  Caleb,  lifting  up  his  voice  so 
that  all  could  hear,  said: 


A  MONUMENT  TO  THE  HEROES. 


261 


"Lo,  I  am  this  day  four  score  autl  five  years  old. 
As  yet  I  am  as  strong  tliis  day  as  I  was  in  the  day 
that  Moses  sent  me;  as  my  strength  was  then, 
even  so  is  my  strength  now  for  war,  both  to  go  out 
and  to  come  in.  Now,  therefore,  give  me  this 
mountain  whereof  the  Lord  spolve  in  that  day;  for 
thou  lieardest  in  that  day  how  the  Anakin.s  were 
there,  and  that  the  cities  were  great  and  fenced. 
If  so  be,  the  Lord  will  be  with  me,  then  I  shall  be 
able  to  drive  them  out  as  the  Lord  said." 

Noble,  unselfish  old  Caleb!  And  how  wonder- 
fully  like  him  was  our  hero  thirty-four  and  a  half 
centuries  later.  It  mattered  not  that  he  had  saved 
a  great  country,  twice  as  large  as  New  York,  Penn- 
sylvania and  Illinois  combined,  or  thirty-two  limee 
as  large  as  Massachusetts.  It  mattered  not  that 
it  was  accomplished  through  great  peril  and  trials 
and  sufferings  that  no  man  can  over-estimate,  he 
never  once  asked  a  reward.  "Give  me  this  moun- 
tain," and  he  went  back  to  his  mission,  and  re- 
sumed his  heavy  burden,  and  let  others  gather 
the  harvest,  and  "the  clusters  of  purple  giapes." 
There  he  was  found  at  his  post  of  duty,  and  met 
death  on  that  fatal  November  the  29th,  1847. 

When  a  generous  people  have  made  the  en- 
dowment complete,  and  built  the  grand  Memorial 
Hall,  they  should  build  a  monument  at  the  "Great 
Grave"  at  Waiilatpui.  Americans  are  patriotic. 
They  buihi  monuments  to  their  men  of  science,  to 


m 


262        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


their  statesmen  and  to  tbeir  soldiers.  It  is  right 
to  do  so.  They  are  grand  object  lessons,  educating 
the  young  in  patriotism  and  virtue  and  right  liv- 
ing. The  monument  at  no  grave  in  all  the  land  will 
more  surely  teach  all  these,  than  v.  ill  that  at  the 
neglected  grave  at  Waiilatpui.  Build  the  monu- 
ment and  tell  your  children's  children  to  go  and 
stand  uncovered  in  its  shadow,  and  receive  its  les- 
sons and  breathe  in  its  inspirations  of  patriotism. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


OREGON  THEN,  AND  OREGON,  WASHINGTON  AND  IDAHO 

NOW. 


The  beginning  of  a  People,  a  State  or  a  Nation 
is  alwaj's  an  interesting  study,  and  wlien  the  be- 
ginning has  resulted  in  a  grand  success,  the  inter- 
est increases.  It  is  seldom  that  in  the  lifetime  of 
the  multitudes  of  living  actors,  so  great  a  trans- 
formation can  be  seen  as  that  to-day  illustrated  in 
the  Pacific  States.  Fifty  years  ago,  the  immigrant, 
after  his  long  journey  over  arid  plains,  after  swim- 
ming rivers  and  climbing  three  ranges  of  moun- 
tains, stood  upon  the  last  slope,  and  beheld 
primeval  beauty  spread  out  before  him.  The  mil- 
lions of  acres  of  green  meadows  had  never  been 
<listurbed  by  a  furrow,  and  in  the  great  forest  the 
sound  of  the  woodman's  ax  had  never  been  heard. 

Coming  by  way  of  the  great  river,  as  it  meets 
the  incoming  waves  of  the  Pacitic,  the  scene  is  still 
more  one  of  grandeur.  Astoria,  at  that  time,  hud 
a  few  straggling  huts,  and  Portland  was  a  village, 
with  its  streets  so  full  of  stumps  as  (o  require  a 


264        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

good  driver  to  get  tliroiigh  with  safety,  and  was 
referred  to  as  a  town  twelve  miles  below  Oregon 
City. 

To  the  writer  nothing  has  left  such  an  impres- 
sion of  wilderness  and  solitude  as  a  journey  up  the 
Willamette,  forty-five  years  ago,  in  a  birch-bark 
canoe,  paddled  by  two  Indian  guides.  The  wild 
ducks  were  scarcely  disturbed,  and  dropped  to 
the  water  a  hundred  yards  away,  and  the  three- 
pronged  buck,  browsing  among  the  lily  pads, 
stopped  to  look  at  the  unusual  invasion  of  his  do- 
main, and  went  on  feeding. 

The  population  of  Oregon  in  that  year,  1850, 
as  shown  by  census,  was  13,294,  and  that  included 
all  of  Oregon,  Washington,  and  Idaho,  with  a  part 
of  Wyoming  and  Montana. 

^^fter  years  of  importunity,  Congress  had  given 
Oregon  a  Territorial  Government  in  1849.  Prior 
to  that—  from  1843  to  1849— it  was  an  independent 
American  government,  for  the  people  and  by  the 
people.  Notwithstanding  the  neglect  of  Oregon 
by  the  General  Government,  and  its  entire  failure 
to  foster  or  protect,  the  old  pioneers  were  true  and 
loyal  American  citizens,  and  for  six  years  took 
such  care  of  themselves  as  they  were  able  and 
performed  the  task  so  well  as  to  merit  the  best 
words  of  commendation. 

The  commerce  of  the  country,  aside  from  its 
furs,  was  scarcely  worth  mentioning.    The  author. 


REV.  STEPHEN  B.  L.  PENROSE, 
President  of  Whitman  College. 


RiV,; 


lii 


.1,11 


THE  SALMON. 


265 


in  1851,  bought  what  few  sa.ted  salmou  there  were 
in  the  market,  and  rfhippe<l  them  to  San  Francisco, 
but  wise  ami  prudent  advisers  regarded  it  as  a' 
risky  venture.  He  would  have  been  considered  a 
wild  visionary,  indeed,  had  he  even  hinted  of  the 
shipments  of  fish  now  annually  made  to  all  parts 
of  the  civilized  world. 

It  was  then  known  tliat  the  rivers  weio  filled 
witli  fish.  In  the  spring  of  the  year,  tlie  smaller 
streams,  leading  away  from  the  Columbia,  were 
literally  blocked  with  almost  solid  masses  of  fish 
on  their  way  to  their  spawning  grounds.  The 
bears  along  the  Columbia,  as  well  as  the  Indians, 
had  an  unlimited  supply  of  the  finest  iish  in  the 
world,  witli  scarcely  an  effort  to  take  them.  An 
Indian  on  the  Willamette,  at  the  foot  of  the  falls, 
could  fill  his  boat  in  an  hour  with  salmou  weigh- 
ing from  twenty  to  forty  pounds. 

In  the  si)riug  of  the  year,  when  the  salmon  are 
running  up  the  Willamette,  they  begin  to  jump 
from  the  water  a  qujirter  of  a  mile  before  reacli- 
iug  the  falls.  One  could  sit  in  a  l)oat  and  see 
hundreds  of  the  great  fish  in  the  aii-  constantly. 
Multitudes  of  them  maiiued  and  killed  thenjselves 
jumping  agaiust  the  rocks  at  tlie  falls. 

The  Indian  did  j^ot  wait  for  "a  rise"  or  "a  bite." 
He  hiid  a  hook  witli  an  eye  socket,  an<l  a  i)ole  ten 
feet  or  more  long.  Tlie  liook  he  fastened  to  a  deer 
thong,  about  two  feet  long,  attached  to  the  lower 


266 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


end  of  the  pole.  When  rea<lA'  for  fishiug  the  pole 
was  inserted  into  the  socket  of  the  hook,  and  he 
felt  for  his  fish,  and  by  a  sudden  jerk  caught  it  in 
the  belly.  The  hook  was  pulled  from  the  pole,  and 
the  fish  had  a  play  of  the  two  feet  of  deer  thong. 
But  the  Indi-n  never  stops  to  experiment;  he 
hauled  in  his  priz€\ 

The  great  forests  and  prairies  were  a  very  para- 
dise for  the  hunters  of  large  game.  Up  to  the  date 
of  1842-3,  of  Dr.  Whitman's  ride,  but  a  single  hun- 
dred Americans  had  settled  in  Oregon,  and  they 
seemed  to  be  almost  accidental  guests.  The  immi- 
gration in  1842  swelled  the  list,  and  the. caravan 
of  1818  started  the  tide,  so  that  in  1850,  as  we  hav(> 
seen,  the  first  census  showed  an  American  popula- 
tion of  13,294. 

In  1890,  in  contrast,  the  population  of  Wash- 
ington was  349,390;  Oregon,  313,7()7;  Idaho,  84,- 
385,  and  five  counties  in  Southwestern  Montana 
and  one  in  Wyoming,  originally  Oregon  territory, 
had  a  population  of  ()5,8r>2,  nuiking  a  total  of  813,- 
404.  ( 'onsidering  the  ditticult  ies  of  reaching  these 
<listant  States  for  many  years,  this  change,  in  less 
than  half  a  century,  is  a  \vond(M'ful  transformation. 
The  Indians  had  iiehl  n!i<lis])ute<l  possession  of 
the  land  for  generations,  and  yet,  as  careful  a  cen- 
sus as  could  be  made,  placed  their  number  at  below 
75,000.  In  1892  the  Indian  Commissioner  marks 
the  number  at  21,057. 


OREGON  iN  1838. 


207 


m 


The  great  changes  are  seen  in  the  fact  that  in 
1838  there  were  but  thirteen  settlements  by  white 
men  in  Oregon,  viz.:  That  at  Waiilatpui,  at  Lap- 
wai,  at  the  Dalles  and  near  Salem,  and  the  Hudson 
Bay  Forts  at  Walla  Walla,  Colville,  Fort  Rail, 
Boise,  Vancouver,  Nisqually,  Umpqua,  Okan«»gau 
and  the  settlement  at  Astoria.  The  old  mission- 
aries felt  thankful  when  letters  reached  them 
within  two  years  after  they  were  written. 

Mrs.  Whitman's  first  letter  from  home  was  two 
years  and  six  months  reaching  the  mission.  The 
most  sure  and  safe  route  was  by  way  of  New  York 
or  Montreal  to  London,  around  the  Horn  to  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  from  which  place  a  vessel  sailed 
every  year  for  Columbia.  The  wildest  visionaries 
at  that  time  had  not  dreamed  of  being  bound  to 
the  East  by  bands  of  steel,  as  Senator  McDutlie 
said:  "The  wealth  of  the  Indies  would  bo  insuffi- 
cient to  coi  cct  by  steam  the  <  olumbia  River  to 
the  States  of  the  East."  Uncle  Sam  seems  to  have 
been  taking  a  very  sound  and  peaceful  nap.  lio 
did  not  own  California,  and  was  even  desirous  of 
trading  Oregon  for  the  cod  fisheries  of  Newfound- 
hmd. 

The  debt  of  gratitude  the  Americans  owe  to  the 
men  and  women  who  endured  the  privations  of 
that  early  day,  and  educated  the  Nation  into  the 
knowk'dge  of  its  future  glory  and  grealness,  has 
not  been  fully  appreciated.     The  settlers  of  i\n 


s; 


268         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

other  states  of  the  frontier  encountered  such  se- 
vere tests  of  courage  and  loyalty.  The  Middh' 
States  of  the  Great  West,  while  they  had  their 
hardships  and  trials,  were  always  within  reach 
of  the  strong  arm  of  the  rrovernnieut,  and  felt  its 
fostering  care,  and  had  many  comforts  which  were 
wholly  beyond  the  reach  of  the  Oregon  pioneers. 

Their  window  glass  for  years  and  years  was 
dressed  deer  skin;  their  parlor  chairs  were  scpmre 
blocks  of  wood;  their  center  tables  were  made  by 
driving  down  four  sticks  and  sawing  boards  by 
hand  for  top,  the  nearest  saw  mill  being  four  hun- 
dred miles  off.  A  ten-penny  nail  was  prized  as  a 
jewel,  and  until  Dr.  Whitman  built  his  mill,  a 
barrel  of  flour  cost  him  twenty-four  dollars,  and 
in  those  days  that  amount  of  money  was  equal  to 
a  hundred  in  our  times  of  to-day. 

The  plows  were  all  wood,  and  deer  thongs  took 
the  place  of  iron  in  binding  the  parts  together.  It 
was  ten  years  after  they  began  to  raise  Avheat 
before  they  had  any  other  implement  than  the 
sickle,  and  for  threshing,  the  wooden  Mail.  It  was 
in  the  year  1S39  the  first  i)rinting  i)ress  reachcil 
Oregon.  It  may  be  marked  as  among  the  pioneer 
civilizers  of  this  now  great  and  prosperous  Chris- 
tian land. 

That  press  has  a  notable  history  and  is  to-day 
preserved  at  the  State  <  'a])itMl  of  Oregon  as  a  relic 
of  by-gone  days  in  ])rinting.    Long  befor(>  the  civil- 


THE  FIRST  PRINTING  PRESS. 

ization  of  Oregon  had  begun  in  1819,  the  (\)ngre- 
gationtil  Missionaries  to  the  Sandwich  Ishmds  had 
imported  this  press  around  the  Horn  from  NeAV 
England,  and  from  that  time  up  to  1839  it  had 
served  an  excellent  purpose  in  furnishing  Chris- 
tian literature  to  the  Kanal^as.  But  the  HandwicJi 
Islanders  had  grown  beyond  it;  and  being  })re- 
sented  with  a  finer  oatfit,  the  First  Native  Cliurch 
at  Honolulu  made  a  present  of  the  press,  ink  and 
paper  to  the  Missions  of  Waiilatpui,  Lapwai  and 
Walker's  Plains. 

The  whole  was  valued  at  |450  at  that  time 
The-press  was  located  at  Lapwai,  and  used  to  print 
portions  of  Scripture  and  hymn  books  in  the  X(>z 
Perces  language,  which  books  were  used  in  all  th(> 
missions  of  the  American  Board.  Visitors  to  these 
tribes  of  Indians  twenty-five  years  after  the  mis- 
sions had  been  broken  up,  and  the  Indians  had 
been  dispersed,  found  c.»pies  of  those  books  still 
in  use  and  prized  as  great  treasures. 

Another  interesting  event  was  the  building  of 
the  first  steamer,  the  Lot  Whitcomb,  in  the  Coliini- 
bia  Hiver  waters.  This  steamer  was  built  of  Ore- 
gon fir  and  spruce,  and  was  launched  December 
2(;th,  1850,  at  .Alilwaukee,  then  a  rival  of  Portland. 
It  was  a  staunch,  well-equipped  V(^ssel,  one  Inin- 
dred  and  sixty  feet  in  lenglh;  beaui,  twentv-f.Mir 
feet;  depth  of  hold,  six  feet  leu  inches;  breadth 
over  all,  forty-two  feet  seven  inches;  diameter  of 


♦.   ( 


i:i- 


270        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

wheel,  nineteen  feet;  length  of  bucket,  seven  feet; 
clip  one  foot  eight  inches,  and  draft  +hree  feet  two 
inches.  It  was  a  staunch  and  elegantly-equipped 
litth'  vessel;  did  good  service  in  tlie  earlv  days, 
maldng  three  round  trips  each  week,  from  Mil- 
waukee to  Astona,  touching  at  Portland  and  Van- 
couver, then  the  only  stopping  places.  The  Whit- 
conib  was  finally  sent  to  California,  niaik^  over, 
named  Annie  Abernethy,  and  was  used  upon  the 
Sacramento  River  as  a  pleasure  and  passenger 
boat. 

These  two  beginnings,  of  the  printer's  art  and 
the  steanier,  are  all  the  more  interesting  when 
compared  Avith  the  richness  and  show  in  the  same 
fields  to-day.  The  jialatial  ocean  traveling  steam- 
ers and  the  power  i)resses  and  papers,  scarct^ly 
second  to  any  in  editorial  and  news-gathering 
ability,  best  tell  the  wonderful  advance  from  com- 
paratively nothing  at  that  time. 

The  taxable  proi)erty  of  Oregon  in  1893  was 
11(58,088,095;  in  Washington  it  was  |283,110,032; 
in  Idaho,  J?34,27(),000.  The  manufactories  of  Ore- 
gon in  1893  turned  out  products  to  the  value  of 
121.5,100,207,  and  Washington,  on  fisheries  alone, 
yielded  a  product  valued  at  |915,.500.  There  has 
been  a  great  fnlliiig  off,  both  in  Oregon  nnd  Wash- 
ington, in  this  source  of  wealth,  and  the  eag(>r 
desire  to  make  mon(>y  will  cause  the  anniliilation 
of  this  great  traffic,  unless  there  is  better  legal 


OREGON'S  WEALTH.  271 

protection.  Wa8lnnj.toii,  in  1893,  reported  227 
saw  mills  and  300  shingle  niills  and  73  sash  and 
door  mills.,  and  a  capital  invested  in  the  lumber 
trade  of  |25,000,000.  A  wonderful  change  since 
Dr.  Whitman  sawed  his  boards  by  hand  as  late 
as  1840. 

The  acres  of  forest  yet  undisturbed  in  Washing- 
ton are  put  down  at  23,588,512.    During  President 
Harrison's  term  a  wooded  tract  in  the  (^iscade 
Mountains,  thirty-five  by  forty   mih^s,   including 
Mount  Eainier,  was  withdrawn  from  eutrv,  and  it 
IS  expected  that  Congress  will  reserve  it  for  a  N'l- 
t.enal  Park.    The  statistics  relating  to  wheat,  wool 
and    fruits    of   all    kinds    fully  justify  the  rlaim 
made  by  Dr.  Whitman  to  President  Tyler  and  Si^c- 
retary  Webster-that  -The  Unite<l  States  had  bet- 
ter by  far  give  all  New  England  for  the  co,l  fish- 
eries of  Newfoundland  than  to  -sacrifice  Oroon  " 
Reading  the  statistics  of  wealth  of  the  States 
comprising  the  (u-iginal  territory  of  Oreoo,,   their 
fisheries,  their  farm  products,  their  lumber,'  thoU- 
mines,  yet  scarcely  begun  to  be  deveh.p.Ml,  one 
won(hu-s  at  the  blindness  and  ignorance^  of  our 
statesmen  fifty  or  more  years  ago,  who  (.nue  so 
near  l(»siug  the  whole  great  territorv.     If  Scmiv- 
tary  Daniel  Webster  could  have  stepped  into  the 
buildings  of  Washingt<m,  Oregon,  and  Idaho  that 
containe.l  the  wcuuh^'fu]  .'xhibit   at   the  World's 
Fair,  he  would  doubtless  have  lifted  his  thouohts 


'm 


272         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


with  profound  gratitude  that  Dr.  Whituian  made 
his  winter  ride  and  saved  him  from  makitfg  the 
blander  of  all  the  century. 

If  old  Senator  McDuffie  who  averred  that  "The 
wealth  of  the  Indies  could  not  jyay  for  connecting 
by  steam  the  Columbia  lliver  with  the  States," 
could  now  take  his  place  in  a  palace  ear  of  some 
one  of  the  four  great  transcontinental  lines,  and 
be  whirled  over  "the  inaccessible  mountains,  and 
the  intervening  desert  wastes,"  he,  too,  might  be 
willing  to  give  more  than  "A  pinch  of  snuff"  for 
our  Pacific  possessions. 

The  original  boundaries  of  Oregon  contained 
over  300,000  square  miles,  which  included  all  the 
country  above  latitude  42  degrees  and  west  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  Its  climate  is  mild  and  delight- 
ful,  and  in  great  variety,  owing  to  the  natural 
divisions  of  great  ranges  of  mountains,  and  the 
warm  ocean  currents  which  impinge  upon  its 
shores,  with  a  rapid  current  from  the  hot  seas  of 
Asia.  This  causes  about  seventy  per  cent  of  the 
winds  to  blow  from  the  southwest,  bringing  the 
warmth  of  the  tropics  to  a  land  many  hundreds  of 
miles  north  of  New  York  and  Boston.  It  is  felt 
even  at  Sitka,  nearly  2,000  miles  further  north 
than  Boston,  where  ice  cannot  be  gathered  for 
summer  use,  and  whose  harbor  has  never  yet  been 
obstructed  by  ice. 
The  typical  features  of  the  climate  of  Western 


DR.  DANIEL  K.  PEARSONS. 


CLIMATE  OF  OREGON. 


273 


Oregon  are  the  rains  of  Winter  and  a  protracted 
rainless  season  in  Summer.  In  other  words,  there 
are  two  distinct  seasons  in  Oregon— wet  and  drv. 
Snows  in  Winter  and  rains  in  Summer  are  excep- 
tional. In  Eastern  Oregon  the  climate  mor<' 
nearly  approaches  conditions  in  Eastern  States. 
There  are  not  the  same  extremes,  but  there  are  th(^ 
same  features  of  Winter  snow,  and,  in  places,  of 
Summer  heat.  Southern  Oregon  is  more  like 
Eastern  than  Western  Oregon. 

In  Eastern  Oregon  the  temperature  is  lower  in 
Winter  and  higher  in  Summer  than  in  Western. 
The  annual  rainfall  varies  from  seven  to  twenty 
inches. 

The  Springs  in  Oregon  are  delightful;  the  Sum- 
mers very  pleasant.  They  are  practically  rainless, 
and  almost  always  without  great  extremes  of  heat.' 

Fall  rains  usually  begin  in  October.  It  is  a  note- 
worthy feature  of  Oregon  Summers,  that  nights 
are  always  cool  and  refreshing. 

The  common  valley  soil  of  the  State  is  a  rich 
loam,  with  a  subsoil  of  clay.  Along  the  streams  it 
is  alluvial.  The  "beaverdam  lands"  'bf  this  class 
are  wonderfully  fertile.  This  soil  is  made  througli 
the  work  of  the  beavers  who  dammed  up  streams 
and  created  lakes.  When  the  water  was  draine<l 
away,  the  detritus  covered  the  ground.  The  soil 
of  the  uplands  is  less  fertile  than  that  of  tlie  bot- 
toms and  valleys,  and  is  a  red,  brown  and  black 


III 


u 


'-111 


I     . :  liJ 


274        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

loam.  It  produces  an  excellent  quality  of  nutuijil 
grass,  and  under  careful  cultivation,  produces  good 
crops  of  grain,  fruits  and  vegetables.  'East  of  the 
Cascade  Mountains  the  soil  is  a  dark  loam  of  groat 
depth,  composed  of  alluvial  deposits  and  decom- 
posed  lava,  overlying  a  clay  subsoil.  The  constit- 
uents of  this  soil  adapt  the  land  peculiarly  to  the 
production  of  wheat. 

All  the  mineral  salts  which  are  necessary  to  the 
perfect  development  of  this  cereal  are  abundant, 
reproducing  themselves  constantly  as  the  grad- 
ual processes  of  decomposition  in  this  soil  of  vol- 
canic origin  proceeds.  The  clods  are  easily  broken 
by  the  plow,  and  the  ground  quickly  crumbles  on 
exposure  to  the  atmosphere. 

In  Northwestern  Oregon,  adjacent  to  the  Co- 
lumbia River,  although  the  dry  season  continues 
for  months,  this  light  porous  land  retains  and  ab- 
sorbs enough  moisture  from  the  atmosphere,  after 
the  particles  have  been  partly  disintegrated,  to 
insure  perfect  development  and  full  harvests. 

In  Southeastern  Oregon,  especially  in  the  vast 
areas  of  fertile  lands  in  Malheur  and  Snake  lliver 
Valleys,  the  soils  ar<>  much  like  those  of  the  Nortli- 
eastern  Oregon  rpgion,  but  there  is  less  moisture. 
Except  in  a  very  small  portion  of  this  region,  irri- 
gation is  necessary  to  successful  agriculture.  The 
water  supply  is  abundant  and  easily  applied. 

We  have  made  no  attempt  to  write  a  complete 


THE  FLAG  OF  BEAUTY  AND  GLORY.      275 

history  of  this  great  section  or  its  wealth,  but  only 
to  outline  such  facts  as  will  make  more  impressive 
the  value  to  the  whole  people  of  the  aistinguished 
services  of  the  pioneers  who  saved   this   gardc^n 
spot  of  the  world  to  the  people   of   the    United 
States.    "The  Flag  of  Beauty  and  Glory"  waves 
over  no  fairer  land,  or  over  no  more  intellio-cit 
prosperous  and  happy  people.     All  this  too  has 
been  reached  within  the  memory  of  multitu.les 
of  living  actors;  in  fact  it  can  be  said  the  glow  of 
youth  IS  yet  upon  the  brow  of  the  young  States 

The  lover  of  romance  in  reality  will  scarcely  re- 
press a  sigh  of  regret,  that  with  Oregon  and  Wash- 
ington, the  western  limit  of  pioneering  has  been 
reached,  after  the  strides  of  six  thousand  years 

The  circuit  of  the  globe  has  been  completed  and 
the  curtain  dropped  upon  the  farther  shores  of 
Oregon  and  Washington,  with  a  history  as  pro- 
foundly interesting  and  dramatic  as  that  written 
on   any   section   of   the   world.    "The  Stars  and 
Stripes"  now  wave  from  ocean  to  ocean,  and  from 
the  Great  Lakes  to  the  Gulf.     It  is  a  nation  of 
grand  possibilities,  whose  history  would  have  been 
marred  for  all  time  to  come,  had  any  foreign  power 
however  good  or  great,  held  possession    of    the 
Pacili(;  States.     With  China  open  to  the  world's 
commerce;   with  the  young  giant  Japan  inciting 
all  the  Far  East  to  a  new  life  and  energy,  the  Pa- 
cific States  of  the  Republic  stand  in  the  very  gate- 


IP 


276 


HO^V  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


way  of  the  warld's:  footsteps,  and  coiiimeree  and 
wealth.  Only  when  measured  in  and  by  the  light 
of  sack  farts,  can  we  fully  estiniate  the  value  to 
the  whole  people  oi  the  Nation  of  the  midwinter 
ride  of  ou^  hero,  and  to  the  brave  pioneers  of 
Oregon. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


LIFE  ON  THE  GREAT  PLAINS  IN  PIONEER  DAYS. 


4  .!■ 


Nothino-  better  shows  the  nipid  advance  of  civ- 
ilization in  this  country,  than  the  f;i(t  tiiat  ninlti- 
tudea  of  the  actors  of  those  eventfu!  years  of  jnu- 
neer  life  in  Oreo-on  and  (California  yet  live  to  see 
and  enjoy  the  wonderful  transformation.  In  fact, 
the  i»ioneer,  most  of  all  others,  can,  in  its  oivj,i<'st 
fullness,  take  in  and  grasp  the  luxuries  of  niiHlern 
life. 

TakiTijr  his  section  in  a  palace  car  in  luxurious 
ease,  he  travels  in  six  days  over  the  same  road 
which  he  wearily  traveled,  forty-five  and  fifty 
years  ap,(),  in  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  one 
hundred  and  ninety  days.  The  fact  is  not  without 
interest  to  him  that  for  more  tluu  a  thousand  miles 
of  tlie  way  on  tlie  «;reat  central  routes,  he  can 
throw  a  stone  from  the  car  window  into  his  ohl 
cami)iug  {^rounds. 

The  ohl  plainsmen  were  not  bad  surveyors. 
They  nmy  not  have  been  advanced  in  triycmom- 
etry  or  loj^arithms,  but   they  had  keen  eyes  and 


^'U 


m 


278        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

ripe  practical  judonient,  which  enabled  them  to 
master  the  situation.  The  trails  marked  and  trav- 
eled by  the  old  missionaries,  nine  times  in  every 
ten,  proved  the  best.  Many  a  time  did  I,  and  oth- 
ers, by  takin«»-  what  seemed  to  be  invitinj*-  "cut- 
off's," find  out  to  our  sorrow  that  tlie  old  trailers  of 
ten  yoiWH  before  us  had  been  wiser. 

I  make  this  a  chapter  of  personal  experience,  not 
for  any  personal  ••raHfication,  but  because  of  the 
desire  to  make  it  real  and  true  in  every  particular, 
an<l  because  the  (hita  and  incidents  of  travel  of  the 
old  missionaries  are  meaj»er  and  incomplete. 

The  experiences  in  IKM],  1S43  and  ISHO,  Avere 
much  the  sanu»,  save  and  except  that  in  isr)0  the 
way  was  more  i)lainly  marked  than  in  ISSC,  which 
then  was  nothinj-'  more  than  an  Indian  (rail,  and 
even  that  often  misleadin;;'.  Resides  that,  the  pio- 
neer corps  had  )nade  passable  many  dan<i(»r  points, 
and  had  even  left  feri'ies  over  the  most  dau.ucrous 
rivers. 

From  184(5  to  isnc  were  ten  years  of  .i»reat  ac- 
tivity u])on  the  frontier.  The  start inj.;'  p(»ints  for 
the  journey  across  the  ]>lains  were  many  au<l  scal- 
ti'red,  from  where  Kansas  (Mty  now  stands  to  Fort 
Leavenworth. 

The  time  of  wliicli  I  write  was  1850.  Our  little 
company  of  seven  cliosen  friends,  all  youn<;  and  in- 
experienced in  any  form  of  wihl  life,  resolved  u])ou 
the  journey,  and  be^an  preparati<ms  in  1840  and 


OUR  EQUIPMENT.  279 

were  ready  in  Marcli,  1850,  to  take  a  steamer  at 
Cincinnati  for  Fort  Leavenworth.  We  had  con- 
snlted  every  authority  within  reach  as  to  our  out- 
fit, both  for  our  safety  and  comfort,  and  few  voy- 
agers ever  started  upon  tlie  lonj.-  journey  wlio  had 
nearer  the  essential  thin-s,  and  so  few  that  proved 
useless. 

In  one  thing  we  violated  the  recomnuMidations 
of  all  experienced  plainsmen,  and  that  was  in  the 
purchase  of  stock.  We  were  advised  to  buv  only 
uiustangs  and  Mexican  mules,  but  chose  to  'buy  in 
()hh>  the  largest  an<l  finest  mules  we  could  find. 
Our  wagons  were  selected  with  great  care  as  to 
every  i)iece  of  timb(M'  and  steel  in  their  nmke-up, 
and  every  leather  and  buckle  in  the  harness  was 
scrutinized. 

Tustead  of  a  trunk,  each  carried  clothes  and  val- 
nables  in  a  two-bushel  rubber  bag,  which  could  ho 
made  wafer-tight  or  air-tight,  if  re(iuire<l.  Extra 
shoes  were  fittc<l  io  th(>  f(M.f  of  oach  mule  and  rid- 
ing iK.rse  and  one  of  11,,.  tiuuiIkt  ju-oved  to  be  an 
exp.Tt  shoer.  The  supply  <,f  pr()viNi<,ns  was-uuuh. 
Jt  careful  stmly,  an<l  we  did  n(»t  have  the  uncom- 
forfalde  exp<Mience  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Whilnian,  and 
run  out  of  flour  before  t  he  journey  was  half  over. 

There  is  nothing  that  develops  the  maiiho,Ml'of 
a  man,  or  the  hick  of  it,  ni(»rc  (piicklv  than  life  on 
the  plains.  There  is  nmny  a  man  surnMinded  bv 
the  sustaining  inlhieuce  of  the  home  and  <,f  re- 


280 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


fined  society,  who  seems  very  much  of  a  man;  and 
yet  when  these  influences  are  removed,  he  wilts 
and  dwarfs.  I  have  seen  men  who  had  been  relij^^- 
ious  leaders  and  exemplary  in  their  lives,  come 
from  under  all  such  restraints,  and,  within  two 
montiis,  "swear  like  troopers." 

Our  little  company  was  fortunate  in  being  made 
up  of  a  manly  set  of  young  men,  who  resolved  to 
stand  by  each  other  and  ea'di  do  his  part.  We  soon 
joined  the  Mt.  Sterling  Mining  Company,  led  by 
Major  Fellows  and  Dr.  C.  P.  Schlater,  from  m. 
Sterling,  Ills.  They  were  an  excellent  set  of  men 
and  our  company  was  then  large  enough  for  ])ro- 
tection  from  any  danger  in  the  Indian  country,  and 
we  kept  together  without  a  jar  of  any  kind. 

In  the  year  1850,  the  Spring  ujxtn  the  frontier 
was  backward.  The  grass,  a  necessity  for  the  cam- 
paigner upon  the  plains,  was  too  slow  for  us,  so  we 
bought  an  old  Government  wagon,  in  additi(m  to 
our  regular  wagons,  filled  it  with  corn,  and  uiK»n 
May  1st,  struck  out  tiirough  Kansas.  It  was  then 
unsettled  by  white  peojjie. 

On  the  nth  day  of  May,  we  woke  up  to  lind  the 
earth  enveloi)ed  in  five  inches  of  snow,  and  mat  ters 
looked  discouraging,  but  the  sun  so(m  shone  cmt 
and  the  snow  disappeared  and  we  began  to  enter 
into  the  spirit  and  enjoyment  of  the  wild  life  be- 
fore us. 

The  Indians  were  plentiful  and  visited  us  fre- 


q 

i] 

t] 
fi 

tr 

gi 
bi 

hi 


in 

kr 

a 

an 

rej 

ea 

ta( 

ffii 


pic 

wh 

as 

wa 

or  ( 

a  r 

aiKi 

eigl 

gro 


TAKING  TURNS.  281 

quently,  but  thej  were  all  frieiullv  that  year  with 
lie  whites  throughout  the  border.    A  war  party  of 
the  Cheyenne  Indians  visited  us  on  their  way  to 
fight   their   enemy,    the    Pawnees.      They   were 
physically,  the  finest  body  of  men  I  ever  saw     We 
treated  them  hospitably   and    they    would 'have 
given  up  their  tight  and  gone  with  us  on  a  grand 
buffalo  hunt,  had  we  consented.    The  chief  would 
hardly  take  no  for  an  answer. 
_    One  of  the  great  comforts  ot  the  plains  travelincr 
in  those  days,  was  order  and  system.    Each  man 
knew  his  duty  each  day  and  each  night.    One  day 
a   man    would   drive;    another   he   would    cook; 
another  he  would  ride  on  horseback.     When   we 
reached  the  more  dangerous  Indian  country,  our 
camp  was  arranged  for  defens<«  in  case  of  an  at- 
tack,  but  we  always  left  our  mules  picketed  out  to 
grass  all  night,  and  never   left   them   without   a 
guard. 

About  the  most  trying  labor  of  that  journev  was 
picket  duty  over  tie  mules    at    night,  espe'cially 
when  the  grass  was  a  long  distance  from  the  camp 
as  It  sometimes  was.    After  a  long  dav's  travel  it' 
was  a  lonesome,  tiivsonie  task  to  keep  up  all  ni-lU 
or  even  half  of  it.    The  animals  were  tether<Ml  ^^■m[ 
a  rope  eighteen  feet  long  bmdded  to  the  fore  le<r 
aiHl    ho  other  end  attac-hed  to  an  inm  pin  twelve  Z 
eighteen    niches   long,    securely   <lriven    into   tlu« 
ground.    As  the  animals  fed  they  were  moved  so 


«>,■  r 


282         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


as  to  keep  them  upon  the  best  pasture.  In  spite  of 
the  best  care  they  woukl  occasionally  cross  and 
the  mischief  would  be  to  pay,  unless  promptly  re- 
lieved. 

Our  greatest  fear  was  from  the  danger  of  a 
stampede,  either  from  Indians  or  from  wild  ani- 
mals. The  Indian  regards  it  as  a  great  accomplish- 
ment to  steal  a  horse  from  a  white  man.  One  day 
a  well-dressed  and  very  polite  Indian  came  into 
camp  where  we  were  laying  by  for  a  rest.  He 
could  talk  broken  English  and  mapped  out  the 
country  in  the  sand  over  the  route  we  were  to 
travel—told  us  all  about  good  water  and  plenty  of 
grass.  lie  informed  us  that  for  some  days  we 
would  go  through  tlie  good  Indian's  country,  but 
then  we  came  to  the  mountains;  and  then  he  be- 
gan to  paA\  the  air  with  his  arms  and  snap  an 
imaginary  whip  and  shout,  "(iee  Buck — wo  haw, 
damn  ye!"  Then  says  our  good  Indii'^^  'Look  out 
for  boss  thieves."    Then  he  got  down  i  ^ass 

and  showed  us  how  the  Indian  would  wiir,  >n;i' 

in  the  grass  until  he  foun<l  the  picket  pin  i  .'Uxl 
his  horse  out  so  sloAvly  that  the  guard  would  not 
notice  the  change,  until  lie  was  outside  the  line, 
when  he  would  mount  and  ride  away. 

That  very  night  two  of  the  best  horses  of  the  Mt. 
Sterling  Mining  Company  were  stolen  in  just  that 
way,  and  to  make  the  act  more  grievous,  they 
were  picketed  so  near  to  the  tents  as  to  seem  to  the 


A  SLIPPERY  VISITOR. 


283 


guards  to  be  perfectly  safe.  We  may  have  mis- 
judged our  "good  Indian"  who  came  into  camp,  but 
we  have  always  believed  that  he  was  there  to  see 
whether  there  were  any  horses  worth  stealing,  and 
then  did  the  stealing  himself. 

We  can  bear  testimony  also,  that  he  was  a  good 
geographer.  His  map  made  in  the  sand  and  trans- 
ferred to  paper  was  perfect,  and  when  we  came  to 
the  mountains,  his  "Gee  Buck,  avo  haw,  damn  ye!" 
was  heard  all  up  and  down  that  mountain.  The 
Indian  had  e\'idently  been  tl.ere  and  knew  what  he 
was  saying.  They  gave  us  but  little  trouble  except 
to  watch  our  live  stock,  as  tlie  Indian  never  takes 
equal  chances.  He  wants  always  three  chances  to 
one,  in  his  favor.  To  show  you  are  afraid,  is  to  lose 
the  contest  with  an  Indian.  I  have  many  times,  by 
showing  a  brave  front,  saved  my  scalp. 

Upon  one  occasion  when  I  had  several  loose 
mules  leading,  I  allowed  myself  unthinkingly  to 
lag  for  tw^o  miles  behind  the  company  througli  a 
dangerous  district.  I  was  hurrying  to  amencfthe 
wrong  by  a  fast  trot,  when  upon  a  turn  in  the 
road  a  vicious-looking  Ind.'an,  with  his  bow  half 
bent  and  an  arrow  on  the  string,  stepped  from  be- 
hind .a  sage  bush  to  the  middle  of  the  road  and  sig- 
naled me  to  stop  when  twenty  feet  away. 

I  Avas  unarmed  and  made  up  my  mind  at  once 
to  show  no  fear.  Upon  coming  within  six  or  eight 
feet  of  him,  I  drove  the  spurs  into  my  horse  and 


*   I 


i'i 


■ !  i  !■,    I  ^ 


2S4 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


gave  Hiich  a  yell  that  tlie  Indian  had  all  he  could 
do  to  dodge  my  horse's  feet,  lie  was  evidently 
astonished  and  thonght,  from  the  boldness  of  the 
move,  that  I  had  others  near  by.  My  horse  and 
mules  went  on  a  dead  run  and  I  expected,  as  I 
leaned  forward,  every  moment  to  feel  his  arrow. 

I  glanced  back  when  fifty  yards  away  and  he  was 
anxioush'  looking  back  to  see  who  else  was  coming 
and  I  was  out  of  his  reach  before  he  had  made  up 
his  mind.    I  was  never  worse  frightened. 

Upon  another  occasion  I  bluffed  an  Indian  just 
as  effectively.  \Yith  two  companions  I  went  to  a 
Sioux  village  to  buy  a  pair  of  moccasins.  They 
were  at  peace  and  we  felt  no  danger.  Most  of  the 
men  were  absent  from  the  village,  leaving  only  a 
small  guard.  I  got  separated  from  my  compan- 
ions, but  found  an  Indian  making  moccasins,  and 
I  stood  in  the  door  and  pointed  to  a  new  pair  about 
the  size  I  wanted,  that  hung  on  the  ridge  pole,  and 
shoAved  him  a  pair  of  handsome  suspenders  that  I 
would  give  him  for  them.  He  assented  by  a  nod 
and  a  grunt,  came  to  the  door,  took  the  suspenders 
and  hung  them  up,  deliberately  sat  down  on  the 
floor  and  took  off  a  dirty  old  pair  he  was  wearing 
and  threw  them  to  me.  I  immediately  threw  them 
back,  and  stepping  into  the  tepee,  caught  hold  of 
the  moccasins  I  had  bought,  but  by  a  quick  motion 
he  snatched  them  from  me. 

I    then    caught    hold    of   the    suspenders   and 


A  CLOSE  CALL. 


285 


bounded  out  of  the  door.    When  fifty  feet  away  I 
looked  back  and  he  had  just  eniei'<»'ed  from  his 
tepee  and  began  h)adinfr  his  rifle.    I  had  emptied 
both  barrels  of  my  shotj^un  at  a  plover  just  before 
reachinn-  the  villaso  and  my  gun  was  fortunately 
unloaded.     It  gave  us  equal  ehanees:    I  stopped 
still,  threw  my  gun  from  the  strap  and  began  load- 
ing.   In  those  days  I  was  something  of  an  expert 
and  before  the  Indian  withdrew  his  ramrod,  1  was 
putting  caps  on  both  barrels  and  he  bounded  in- 
side his  wigwam,  and  I  lost  no  time  in  putting  a 
tepee  between  us,  and  finding  my  friends,  when  we 
hastily  took  leave. 

Our  company  took  great  comfort  and  pride  in 
our  big  American  mules,  trained  in  civilized  Ohio. 
A  pair  of  the  largest,  the  wheelers  in  the  six-mule 
team,  were  as  good  as  setter  dogs  at  night.  Tht^y 
neither  liked  Indians,  wolves  nor  grizzlies;  and 
their  scent  was  so  keen  they  could  smell  their  ene- 
mies two  hundred  yards  away,  unless  the  wind 
was  too  strong. 

When  on  guard,  and  in  a  lonesome,  dangerous 
place,  we  generally  kept  close  to  our  long-eared 
friends,  and  when  they  stopped  eating  and  raised 
their  heads  and  pointed  those  ponderous  ears  in 
any  direction,  we  would  drop  in  the  grass  and  hold 
ourselves  ready  for  any  emergency.  They  would 
never  resume  their  feeding  until  assured  that  the 
danger  had  passed. 


mmw  mi 


■' '  I. 


286        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

And  then  what  faithful  felh)ws  to  pull!  At  a 
word  they  wouhl  plant  their  feet  on  a  mountain 
side  and  never  allow  the  wa.i-on  to  -ive  back  a  sin- 
gle foot,  no  matter  how  precipitous;  and  again  at 
the  word,  they  would  pull  with  the  precision  o/a 
machine. 

The  off-leader,  "Manda,"  was  the  handsomest 
mule  ever  harnessed.  As  everybody  remarked, 
"She  was  as  beautiful  as  a  pictm-e.""^  She  would 
pull  and  stand  and  hold  the  wagon  as  obedient  to 
command  as  an  animal  could  be,  but  she  was  by 
nature  wild  and  vicious.  She  was  the  worst  kicker 
I  ever  saw.  She  allowed  herself  to  be  shod,  seem- 
ing to  understand  that  this  was  a  necessity.  But 
no  man  ever  succeeded  in  riding  her.  She  beat 
the  trick  mules  in  any  circus  in  jumping  and  kick- 
ing. 

One  night  we  had  a  stampede,  and  one  of  the 
flying  picket  pins  struck  the  mule  between  the 
bones  of  the  hind  leg,  cutting  a  deep  gash,  four 
inches  or  more  long;  the  swelling  of  the  limb  caus- 
ing the  wound  to  gape  open  fully  two  inches.  She 
did  not  attempt  to  bear  her  weight  upon  the  limb, 
barely  touching  it  to  the  ground.  The  flies  were 
very  bad,  and  knowing  the  animal,  and  while  priz- 
ing her  so  highly,  we  were  all  convinced  that  we 
must  leave  her.  The  trnin  i)ulled  out.  It  was  my 
duty  that  morning  to  bring  on  the  loose  stock,  and 
see  that  nothing  of  value  was  overlooked  in  camp. 


:;^".« 


MANDA.  THE  MULE.  £87 

I  was  ready  to  leave,  when  I  went  up  to  the  mule 
that  had  come  with  us  all  the  way  from  home, 
nearly  three  thousand  miles,  and  had  been  a  faith- 
ful servant,  and  bepui  pettino.  her,  expressiu-^ 
my  pity  and  sorrow  that  we  had  to  leave  her  here 
for  the  Indians  and  tlie  wolves.  As  I  rubbed  her 
bead  and  talked  to  her,  the  poor  dumb  brute 
seemed  to  understand  every  word  said 

Never  before  in  all  the  hm^  journey  had  the  fa- 
mous  six-mi:]<^team  ^one  without  Manda  prancino- 
as  off  leader.    She  rubbed  me  with  her  nose  and 
laid  It  upon  my  shoulder,  and  seemed  to  be-  as 
eloquently  as  a  dumb  beast  can,  "Don't  leave^ne 
behind."    With  it  all,  there  was  a  kindly  look  in 
her  eye  I  never  before  had  seen.    I  stood  strok- 
ing her  head  for  some  time,  then  I  patted  her  neck 
and  walked  a  little  back,  but  constantly  on  .uard 
It  was  then  the  animal  turned  her  headend  looked 
at  me  and  at  the  same  time  held  up  the  wounded 
leg.    My  friend  Moore,  who  had  staid  back  to  as- 
sist,  was  a  little  distance  off,  and  1  called  him 

As  he  came  up,  I  said  to  him:  "This  mul'e  has 
bad  a  change  of  heart."  He  put  a  bridle  upon  her 
so  that  he  could  hold  up  her  head,  and  rubbing 
ber  side,  I  finally  ventured  to  take  hold  of  the 
wounded  leg.  I  rubbed  it  and  fondled  it  without 
ber  showing  any  symptom  of  resentment 

I  got  out  instruments,  sewed  the  wound  up,  and 
sewed  bandages  tight  about  the  leg,  made  a  capital 


m 


288         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

(Iressinn^  and  wo  started,  leading  Manda.  She  soon 
beo-au  to  bear  weij^jht  upon  the  wounded  limb,  and 
had  no  diffieulty  in  keeping;  np  with  the  train. 
When  the  bandages  woidd  get  misplaced,  one 
coidd  get  down  in  the  road  with  no  one  to  assist, 
and  adjnst  them.  We  took  ^[anda  all  the  way,  and 
no  handsomer  animal  ever  journeyed  across  tlie 
plains.    She  was  nev^r  known  to  kick  afterward. 

People  call  it  "instinct  in  animals,"  but  the  more 
men  know  and  study  dumb  life,  the  more  tliey  are 
impressed  with  their  reasoning  intelligence.  Dr. 
Whitman's  mule,  finding  camp  in  the  blinding 
snow  storm  on  the  mountains,  when  the  shrewil 
guide  was  hoi)elessly  lost;  my  old  horse  leading 
me  and  my  friend  in  safety  tlirough  the  Mississippi 
Kiver  back  water  in  the  great  forest  of  Arkansas, 
as  well  as  this,  which  I  have  told  without  an  em- 
bellishment, all  teach  impressively  the  duty  of 
kindness  that  we  owe  (o/our  dumb  friends. 

Tn  Mrs.  Whitman's  diary  we  frecpiently  find  al- 
lusion to  liei'  faithfid  ixmy,  and  her  sympathy  with 
him  when  the  grass  is  scarce  and  the  work  hard, 
is  but  an  evidence  of  true  nobility  in  the  woman. 
In  a  long  journey  like  the  one  made  from  Ohio  to 
the  Pacific  Coast,  it  is  wonderful  what  an  affec- 
ti(»n  grows  u])  !)etween  man  and  his  dumb  heli»ers. 
And  there  is  no  mistaking  the  fact  that  animals 
ai)preciate  and  reciprocate  such  kindness.  Even 
our  dog  was  no  exception. 


ROVER. 


289 


As  I  have  startod  in  to  introduce  u\y  duinb  as- 
sociates, it.  would  be  a  mistake,  especially  for  niv 
boy  readers,  to  omit  Rover.    He  was  a  voun-  do^r 
when  we  started,  but  he  was  a  dog-  of  thorou-h 
education  and  larov  exj)erience  bef(»re  he  reached 
the  end  of  his  journey.    He  was  no  doo-  with  a  Ion-- 
pedijrree  of  illustrious  ancestors,  but  was  a  mixed 
Ht.    Bernard   and    Newfoundland,   and    txrow   u]) 
large,  stately  and  di-nilied.     He  was  petted,  but 
never  spoiled,    ^^'hen  he  was  tired  and  wanted  to 
ride,  he  knew  how  to  tell  the  fact  and  was  nevcM- 
told  that  he  was  nothing  but  a  dog. 

Me  was  no  shirk  as  a  walker,  but  the  hot  sal- 
eratus  dust  and  sand  wore  <»ut  his  feet.    We  took 
the  fresh  skin  of  an  antelope  and  made  boots  for 
him,  but  when  no  (uie  was  looking  at  him  he  would 
«naw  them  off.      When  the  comi)auv  separated 
after  reaching  the  coast.  Hover,  by  unanimous  con- 
sent, went    with   his  favorite  master,  J.   S.   Nis- 
\Aauder,  now  a  gray-haired,  honcn-ed  citizen  of  (}il- 
roj,  Cal.    A  few  years  ago  I  visite<l  Niswander  and 
Dr.  J.  Doan,  who,  with  myself,  are  th(>  onlv  living 
survivors  of  our  company,  and  he  gave  me  the 
history  of  l{„v,.,.  after  I  left  for  ()reg(»u. 

Xiswander  was  a  famous  grizzly  bear  hunter, 
and  with  Hover  as  a  coiupaniou,  ]„>  ,uade  journevs 
prospecting  for  gcdd,  and  hunting,  long  distan.-es 
fi'om  civilization.  When  night  rame  the  pack 
imde  was  i>lcketed  near  by  and  a  big  fire  l)uilt, 


II 


290 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


with  plenty  of  wood  to  keop  it  rcplcnislKHl  diiriiiir 
the  night.    Rover  hiid  himself  ajiainst  his  nuistfi 
feet,  and  in  ease  f)f  danovr  Ik.  would  ahvays  wal 
him  with  a  low  j>i'o\vl  ilose  to  his  ear,  and  wh 


r\s 
ken 


(Ml 


this  was  done,  he  would  lopo  off  in  the  dark  an<l 
find  out  what  it  was,  while  X 


gun  and  revolver  ready  for 

back  and  lay  down  he  knew  at 

alarm  and  dropped  to  sleep  in  perfect  security 


iswander  held  his 

use.    If  the  dog  cauic 

once  it  was  a  false 


At  one  time  he  brouiiht 


small  lirkin  of  butter,  a  urear  1 


lUKtng  his  provisions  a 


uxury  at  that  time 


He  took  the  tirkin  and  S(M   it  in  the  shade  of 
great  red-wood,  tumlded  (.ff  the  rest  of  his  -ocxh 
picketed  his  mule,  and  went  off 
gold,  telling  Uover  to  take 


prospecting  for 
care  of  the  tliiuus  uufil 


he  returned.  He  was  gone  all  day  and  returned 
late  in  Hie  evening,  and  looking  around  could  not 
see  his  firkin  of  butter,  Ilo  told  me  he  turned  to 
the  old  dog  and  said:    "liover,  I  never  knew  you 


to  do  such  a  trick  befoi'o  and  I 


am  ashamed  of 
U])ou  beiug 


you."  The  old  fellow  (.nly  hung  his  head 
scolded.     Hut  soon  after  Mr.  X.  iiotieed 
cious  pile  of  leaves  about  the  roots  ()f  the  tree,  ai'id 
when  he  had  turned  them  aside  he  found  his  tirl, 
of  butter  untouched. 


I  sus])!- 


m 


The  high  Aviud  which  had 


iii'iseu  had  l)Io\vn  the 


paper  cover  from  the  butter  and   the  dog  kiu'w 
it  ought  to  be  covered,  and  with  his  feet  and  uos- 


HARDSHIPS  ON  THE  PLAINS.  291 

had   outliei'od   the  loaves   for  more  than   a   rod 
around  and  covered  it  u]). 

Tlie  Indians  Mnally  poisoned  tlie  ohl  dog  for  the 
pui'pose  of  robbiiio  his  master.  Said  he:  "When 
llovin'  died  I  shed  nn)re  tears  than  I  had  shed  for 
years.'' 

NN'hih'  reading,  as  I  liave,  Mrs.  Wliitman's  (hiiiy 
diary  of  lier  journey  in  1880, 1  am  most  astonished 
at  the  hiclv  of  all  complaints  and  murmurings  I 
know  so  well  the  perils  and  discomforts  she  met 
on  the  way  ami  see  her  every  ,h,v,  cheerfnl  nnd 
Hinilin-  and  happy,  and  filled  with  thankfidness 
for  blessmos  received,  that  she  seems  for  the 
yp'v  absence  of  any  repinino,  to  be  a  woman  of 
the  most  exalted  chnracter. 

r  hav(»  ti-aveled  for  (hiys  and  weeks  through  sal- 
oratus  dust  that  nmde  lips,  face  and  eves  torment- 
mgly  sore,  while  the  throat  and  air  tubes  seeu.ed 
to  be  raw.     She  bandy  menti,.ns  them.     T  h.ive 
rami)ed  many  a  lime,  as  she  doubliess  did,  where 
the  water  was  poiscmtms  with  alkali,  and  unfit  for 
"lan  or  beast.    I  have  been  stun«-  by  buffalo  lli,.s 
"»^'l  <lH'  stinn  of  a  .Toisey  nms,|ulto  wtuild  be  a 
positive  luxury.     She  baivly  u.enti.uis  the  i»ests 
She  does  once  mihlly  say:   "The  nuKsquitoes  were 
NO  thick  that  we  c<,uld  hardly  breathe,"  and  thiit 
"the  tieas  covered  all  our  j;armei.(«»  and  made  life 
abnnh'n  until  she  could  -et  dear  (d' them. 

Then  there  were  snakes.    As  far  as  I  km)w  she 


1      !| 


'^-  u, 


■I'd'l 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


nevor  oiuc  nmiplaiiKMl  of  snakes.     TIuh  niaki's  it 


all  tiio  more  nwossarv  in  aiviiiii  a  tr 


lie?  picture  of 


l»loueei'in<>'  upon  the  plains,  to  j^ive  a  real  experi- 
ence. There  is  nothiuiL;'  more  hateful  than  a  snake. 
We  were  introduced  to  the  i)rairie  rattler  very 
early  iii  the  journey  and  some  had  s])ort  over  it. 
W'v  all  wore  hijili,  I'attlcsnako  boots;  they  were 
heavy  and  hard  on  llie  feet  that  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  softer  covering. 

One  of  our  gallant  boys  had  received  a  i)rest>nt 
of  a  pair  of  beauiifnl  embroidered  slippers  from 
a  loved  friend,  and  after  supjier  he  threw  oif  those 
hij-h  snake  boots  and  put  on  his  slip])ers.  Just 
then  he  was  reminded  that  it  was  his  dut}'  that 
lught  to  assist  in  pick<'(in<>'  the  mules  in  fresh 
l>asture.     lie  .^ot  hold  of  two  lariats  and  started 


off  siimln"'  "The  (lirl  I  Left  Behind  Me 


About 


one  hundred  and  tifly  yards  off  he  heard  that 
ominous  rattle  near  by  and  he  droi)i)ed  those 
laiialsand  came  into  camj)  at  a  speed  lha(  elicited 
cheers  fi'om  the  entire  crowd. 

Karly  in  the  joui'uey  an  old  Indian  told  nu'  1h»w 
to  keep  the  snakes  from  our  beds,  and  that  was 
^o  jj-et  a  lariat  made  from  the  hair  of  a  buffalo's 
neck  and  lav  it  entirelv  around  the  bed.  T  uot 
the  lariat  and  seldom  Avent  to  slee])  without  beino' 
inside  of  its  coil,  ll  is  a  fa«t  (hat  a, snake  will  not 
willingly    crawl    over    such    a    I'ope.     The  sharp 


A  NIGHT  OF  HORRORS. 


293 


prickly  bristles  arc  eithci'  iin(()nif(,r(al)k'  to  tlici.:, 
or  tlic.v  cx]K>ct  there  is  (laiif^ci'. 

One  iiiolit  of  horrors  never  to  be  lor<.ot(eii  was 
when  I  (lid  not  have  my  Indian  lai-iat.  Who  of  my 
readers  ever  had  a  rattlesnake  attempt  to  make  a 
nest  in  his  hair?  The  story  may  hardlv  be  w(»rUi 
tellino'  but  1  will  relate  it  just  as  it  occurred. 

We  had  camped  on  the  St.  Mary's  River  and 
had  jione  four  miles  off  the  road  to  find  o«.od  01-;,^^. 
in--  for  our  animals.  Su])per  Avas  over,  our  bui>ler 
had  sounded  his-last  note,  and  we  were  preparing.' 
for  bed  when  a  man  came  in  from  a  camp  a  mile 
off  and  vei)(>rted  that  they  luul  found  a  man  on  a 
small  island,  who  was  very  sick  and  they  wanted 
a  doctor. 

Dr.  Schlater,  of  the  Mt.  Sterlinj,^  Minino-  (\nn- 
puny,  at  once  j-ot  ready  and  Avent  with  him.  Dr. 
Schlater  was  one  of  the  orand  specimens  of  man- 
liood.  He  worked  with  the  sick  man  all  ni-ht  and 
at,  daylioht  (.nine  doAvn  and  asked  lue  t(i  -(.  u]) 
with  him.  While  we  were  bathino-  him  the  ((un- 
p;niy  of  Michioan  packeis,  who  ha<l  found  the 
stranovr,  moved  off,  and  left  us  alone  wit  h  th<'  sick 
man,  who  was  delirious  ami  c(»uld  oive  no  account 
of  himself. 

We  found  from  papers  in  his  pockets  that  his 
nanie  was  West  Williams  of  BhM.niin-ton,  Iowa, 
and  he  carried  a  card  fnun  the  1.  ().  ().  F.  of  that 
place.     We  made  him  as  comfortable  as  i)ossibIu 


'''Ja^WI'"K  -!,;^3W?i.*g»(;-.ai 


294         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


and  went  back  to  our  ramp  and  reported  his  con- 
dition. We  found  the  company  all  ready  to  move 
oil.  :\'  waitinji-  for  iis.  The  man  was  to(.  sick 
to  •  _  .1  and  it  would  not  do  to  let  him  remain 
there  alone,  and  it  Avas  decided  that  Dr.  S.  an<l  I 
should  remain  with  him  and  try  and  find  his 
friends  or  hire  some  person  to  take  care  of  him,  aii,I 
tlien,  by  forced  marclies,  we  could  follow  on  and 
catch  the  company. 

We  raised  a  purse  of  one  hundred  dollars  and 
with  such  medicines  as  we  needed  and  other  sup- 
plies, also  kept  back  a  lioht  spring  wagon,  and 
brought  the  sick  man  to  our  camp.  I  suggested  to 
the  Doctor  that  he  ride  over  to  the  road  and  put  up 
some  written  notices,  giving  the  man's  name,  etc. 
lie  wrote  out  several  and  posted  them  on  the  trees 
^\\wre  they  would  attract  attention  from  passers. 
Whih-  he  was  doing  this,  a  man  with  an  ox-team 
came  along  and  proved  to  be  an  old  friend  of  the 
sick  man  right  from  the  same  locality.  Mis  name 
was  Van  S.  Israel.  I  le  at  once  came  with  the  Doc- 
tor and  took  charge  of  Williams,  greatly  to  our 
relief. 

\\hilc  the  Doctor  was  upon  the  road  he  was 
called  to  prescribe  for  another  sick  man  by  the 
name  of  Mahan,  from  Missouri.  Learning  wher(> 
we  were  located,  the  Mahans  moved  down  to  oiii- 
camp.  The  sick  man  was  accompanied  by  his 
brother,  and  they  had  a  splendid  outfit.    We  con- 


A  HUGE  RATTLER. 


295 


eluded  to  give  the  entire  day  to  the  sick  men  and 
ride  across  tlie  small  desert  just  ahead  during,'  the 
night.  A  tent  was  erected  for  Mahan,  and  he 
walked  in  and  laid  down. 

An  hour  or  so  later  I  went  to  the  tent  door  and 
looking  in  saw  tlip  nuin  lying  dead.  I  spoke  to  his 
brother,  who  went  into  the  tent  convulsed  with 
grief.  I  had  scarcely  reached  my  tent  before  I 
heard  a  piercing  scream  and  rushed  back,  and 
upon  opening  the  tent  flap  was  horrified  to  beliold 
the  largest  rattlesnake  I  had  ever  seen,  coiled  ou 
the  opposite  side  of  the  dead  body  and  the  living 
brother  crowding-  as  far  away  as  possible  on  the 
other  side  to  be  out  of  his  reach. 

As  soon  as  I  appeared  the  snake  uncoiled  and 
slipped  under  the  edge  of  the  tent.  I  caught  up  a 
green  cottouwood  stick  and  ran  around  and  he 
at  once  coiled  for  a  fight.  I  let  him  strike  the  stick. 
After  striking  each  time  he  would  try  to  retreat, 
but  a  gentle  tap  with  the  stick  would  arouse^  his 
anger  and  he  would  coil  and  strike  again.  At 
first  a  full  drop  of  the  yellow  fluid  appeared  ui)on 
the  stick.  This  gradually  diminished,  and  with  it 
the  courage  of  the  reptile,  which  seeuuMl  lo  lose 
all  fighting  propensity.    I  then  killed  him. 

Just  before  sunset  we  were  ready  to  leave  our 
sad  associates,  and  we  rode  down  to  the  river  to 
give  our  mules  a  drink.  The  St.  Mary's  is  a  deep 
streaui  running  through  a  level  stretch  with  no 


,  ifct 


'I    ii 


296         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

banks.    The  mules  had  often  been  caved  into  the 

deep  Avater  and  learned  to  get  down  on  their  kuees 

to  drink.    For  fear  of  an  accident  J  got  off  and  al- 

low(Hl  my  mule  to  kneel  and  drink.  As  he  got  upon 

his  feet  T  swung  into  the  saddle  and  started  on. 

I  had  scarcely  got  firmly  seated  when,  right  under 

the  mule,  a  rattler  sang  out.  My  double-barrel  gun 

was  hanging  from  my  shoulder,  muzzle  down,  "as 

quick  as  a  flash  I  slipped  my  arm  through  the 

strap,  cocked  the  gun  at  the  same  time,  and  the 

mule  shying,  brought  his  snakeship  in  range,  and 

just  as  he  was  in  the  act  of  striking,  I  shot  him 

dead.    The  only  good  thing  about  the  rattler  is  that 

he  always  gives  the  alarm  before  striking. 

It  was  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  when 

we  got  through  the  desert  and  reached  a  cluster 

of  trees,  and  resolved  to  stop  and  take  a  little  sleep, 

and  give  our  mules  the  feed  of  grass  we  had  tied 

behind  our  saddles.    We  found  a  fallen  trea  and 

tied  our  animals  to  the  boughs  and  fed  them.    A 

small  company  of  packers  were  there  asleep  with 

their  heads  toward  the  fallen  tree.     We  passed 

them  to  near  the  butt  of  the  tree,  threw  aside  some 

rotten  chunks,  spread  a  blanket,  and  each  rolled 

up  in  another,  lay  down  to  rest.    My  snake-lariat 

was  with  the  wagon,  but  I  was  too  tired  to  think 

much  of  it.     The  Doctor  being  up  all  the  night 

before,  was  asleep  in  two  minutes.    I  .was  dozing 

off,  with  rattlesnakes  and  all  the  horrors  of  the 


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as  ba 


ONLY  A  TOAD.  ^S? 

not   plentiful   „n   the   plains,   and,    bosi.los    tl,n 
plainsmen  wear  long  hair  as  a  protection     r  • 
P^a   t  ,,,  „,,^,  ,  ,^,^  .nin„tes'o/:i:„  J  'Z 
jet   ,t  seemed  an  hour,   before  I  be,an  e  w 
awake  and  reached  at  once  the  c„ncl„rn  that  T 
Uad  poked  my  head  near  the  log  whore  hk  In, 
«hip  was  sleeping,  and  the  evening  bdno  cool     " 
was  trying  to  secure  warmer  ouarters     f  ,       ' 
would  not  do  to  move  my  hend     T         .,        ''"""'  " 

l,„o,,         ?"'^^*^"ly  I  grasped  the  offender  by  tl,e 

-"trdt*.:nhi''nH'::  '"""^""°  "'^  '-*: 

Indifus    Thi!  r       "'■"■'■ng  we  were  attacked  by 
tKo  r;a,  con"  ilnl    *^  '"•"  *"  ''^  "•=''«'  *"  '— 

o/tUrrr^rt^'r'' ^'''^  ^™-'"- 

even  matter  that     ,e  Iff     ,       ^■'  ''""'  "  ""'«"'' 
but  only  at  honest   Ivh'^  ""'  ""'  "  ''""'e'-, 

f.ing  to  !4t  w^; '  r-  r tr.hrr""'- 

-  badl,  as  the  biggest  iatt^  JC  ttlX;": 


tl. 


298 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


could,  and  I  helped  him  to  make  a  hop  that  beat 
the  record  of  Mark  Twain's  jumpin}»-froo'  in  his 
best  days. 

But  life  on  the  plains  was  not  a  continued  suc- 
cession of  discomforts.  The  dyspeptic  could  well 
afford  to  make  such  a  journey  to  gain  the  appetito 
and  the  good  digestion.  The  absence  of  annoy- 
ing insect  life  during  the  night,  and  the  i)ure,  in- 
vigorating air,  makes  sleep  refreshing  and  health- 
giving.  For  a  month  at  a  time  we  have  lain  down 
to  sleep,  looking  up  at  the  stars,  without  the  fear 
of  catching  cold,  or  feeling  a  drop  of  dew.  There 
are  long  dreary  reaches  of  plains  to  pass  that  are 
wearisome  to  the  eye  and  the  body,  but  the  moun- 
tain scenery  is  nowhere  more  picturesquely  beau- 
tiful. 

At  that  time  the  sportsman  could  have  a  sur- 
feit in  all  kinds  of  game,  by  branching  off  from 
the  lines  of  travel  and  taking  the  chances  of  h)s- 
ing  his  scalp.  Herds  of  antelope  were  seen  every 
day  feeding  in  the  valleys,  while  farther  away 
there  were  buffalo  by  the  hundred  thousand.  The 
great  butchery  of  these  noble  animals  had  then  but 
fairly  begun.  To-day,  there  still  live  but  three 
small  herds.  Our  company  did  not  call  it  sport 
to  kill  buffalo  for  amusement.  It  was  not  sport, 
but  butchery.  A  man  could  ride  up  by  the  side  of 
his  victim  and  kill  him  with  a  pistol. 


CHARGED  BY  A  BUFFALO  BULL.  299 

It  was  among  our  rules  to  allow  no  team  ani- 
mal to  be  used  in  the  ciuiHo.    But  I  forgot  nijself 
once  and  violated  the  rule.    We  were  restiu..-  th'it 
<lay  in  eanip.    In  the  distance  I  saw  two  hunters 
after  a  huge  buffalo  bull,  coming  toward  our  camp 
I  saw  by  the  direction  that  one  ct)uld  ride  around 
the  spur  of  a  high  hill  about  a  mile  distant  and 
intercept  him.    We  had  as  a  saddle  horse  of  one 
team  an  old  clay-bank,  which  was  one  of  the  most 
solemn  horses  I  have  ever  seen.    His  beautv  was  in 
his  great  strength  and  his  long  mane  and  tail.    But 
he  carried  his  head  on  a  straight  level  with  his 
back  and  never  was  known  to  put  on  anv  airs     He 
stood  picketed  handy,  and  seizing  a  bridle  and  mv 
gun  I  mounted  without  a  saddle  and  urged  the  old 
horse  into  a  lope. 

As  I  turned  the  spur  of  the  hill,  the  bull  came 
meeting  me  fifty  yards  away.    He  was  a  monster; 
his  tongue  protruded,  and  he  was  frothing  at  the 
mouth  from  his  long  run.    He  showed  no  signs  of 
turning  from  his  road  because  of  my  appearance 
Just  then,  when  not  more  than  thirty  yards  awav 
my  old  horse  saw  him  and  turned  so  quickly  as  to' 
nearly  unseat  me.    He  threw  up  his  head  until  that 
great  mane  of  his  enveloped  me;  and  he  broke  f(M- 
the  camp  at  a  gait  no  one  ever  dreamed  he  pos- 
sessed.   I  did  no  shooting,  but  I  did  the  fastest  rid- 
mg  I  ever  indulged  in  before  or  since.     It  is  a 


»  i« 


■"U 


300 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


fact,  that  a  mad  buffalo,  pliiiij'iiin-  toward  you  is 
only  jdeasant  wlion  you  can  j>('t  out  of  his  way. 

The  shiughtcr  and  annihilaticMi  of  the  buffalo 
is  tho  most  atrocious  act  ever  chisscd  under  the 
liead  of  sport.  A  few  years  ay;'o,  whih»  travelinj^' 
over  tlje  (Jreat  Northern  Railway,  I  saw  at  dif- 
ferent stations  ricks  of  bones  from  a  (juarter  to  a 
third  of  a  mile  Ion;;-,  piled  uj*  as  hi<;ii  as  ihe  toi>s 
of  the  cars,  awaitinji'  shijunent.  1  asked  one  of  the 
experienced  and  reliable  railway  oflicials  of  the 
trallfic,  and  he  informed  me  that  "Not  less  than 
2(J,(H)0  car  loads  of  buffalo  bones  had  been 
shipi)ed  over  the  (Ireat  Northern  Railroad  lo  llie 
bone  factories;  and  not  one  in  a  thousand  of  tlie 
remains  had  ever  been  touched."  The  weij^ht  of 
a  full-sized  buffalo's  bones  is  about  sixty  ])(Hinds. 
The  traffic  is  still  enormous  al(»uj;'  these  northern 
lines.  If  the  Indian  had  any  sentiment  it  would 
likely  be  called  out  as  he  wanders  over  the  plains 
and  j;athers  up  the  dry  bones  of  these  well-niiih 
extinct  wild  herds,  that  fed  and  clothed  his  liilM' 
through  so  many  generations. 

I  have  seen  beautiful  horses,  but  never  saw  any 
half  so  handsome  as  the  wihl  horses  upon  the 
plains.  The  tame  Inn'se,  however  well  groomed, 
is  <lespoile<l  of  his  j^raudeur.  Ii«'  c(nui)ares  with 
his  wild  brother  as  the  plebeian  comi)ares  with 
royalty.     I   saw   a   beautiful   race   between   tw<> 


WILD  HORSES. 


Uiva.s('rs  wIk.  were  chasino  .,  |,(>i.,|  ^^f  ^^ji^j  j 
Tho.y  wero  runiiiii<r  parallel  with  the  road  I 


traveling-,  and  I  sjviiircd 


301 


lOl'HCH. 


was 


11 


])  and  ran  by  their  sid 


soino  four  hundred  yards  distant,  and  had  a  el 
to  study  them  for  many  miles. 
r  afterward  saw  a  liand 


e 


lance 


just  been  eauLdit.    He 


some  stalJi(m  that  Jiad 
was  tied  and  in  a  corral,  but 


If  one  ai)i)roached  he  would  jump  at  him  and  striK, 
Jnid  kiek  as  savagely  as  possible.  His  back 
sh«»wed  saddle  marks,  which  proved  that  he  Ivid 
not  always  been  the  wild  savage  ho  had  then  be- 
come. The  mountains  and  hills  where  the  wild 
horses  w(u-e  then   most   numerous!  were  covered 


widi  wild  oats,  which 


•ave  the  country  the  ap- 


pearance of  large  cultivation 

Amono-  the  interest  in-  facts  which  the  travel 
on  the  great  jdains  learns,  and  often  to  his  d 
fort,  is  the  deception  as  to  distance.    H 


or 


isconi- 


e  sees  some- 


thing  of  interest  and  resolves  "it  is  but  two  mih., 
iway,"  but  the  chances  are  that  it  will  prove  to  be 


t'igh(  or  ten  miles.     Tl 


ic  country  is  made  up  of 


great  waves.      L(»oking  olf  you  see  the  Um  of 


wave,  and  wlu'n  you  get  there  a  valh 
not  see,  stretch«\s  away  for  miles. 

We  always  tried  to  treat  our  Ind 
teously,    but   tliev 


'y  that  you  did 


ian  guests  coin- 


were  often    v<»ted   a   nil 


l»'i«'  ♦•(.(dving  our  su|.p«'r  they  would  <d'ten  f 


isance. 


a  circle,  twenty  or  thirtv  of  them  sitt 


orm 


ing  on  the 


302         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


ground,  and  they  looktHl  so  longingly  at  the 
bread  and  ham  and  coffoc,  that  it  almost  took 
one's  appetite  away.  We  conld  only  afford  to 
give  the  sqnaws  what  was  left.  To  fill  up  such  a 
crowd  would  have  soon  ended  our  sto"k  of  sup- 
plies. 

One  of  the  things  that  made  an  Indian  grunt, 
and  even  laugh,  was  to  see  our  cook  baldng  pan- 
cakes in  a  long-handled  frying  pan.  To  turn  the 
cake  over  he  tossed  it  in  the  air  and  caught  it  as 
it  came  d(»wn.  A  cook  on  the  plains  that  could 
not  do  that  was  not  u])  m  liis  business. 

EAcei)t  ui)on  the  mountains  and  rocky  canyons, 
the  roads  were  as  good  as  a  turnpike;  but  some 
of  the  climbs  and  descents  were  fearful,  while  an 
occasional  canyon,  mih's  long,  h)oke(l  wholly  iiii- 
l)assable  without  breaking  the  legs  of  half  the 
animals  and  smashing  the  wagons. 

The  old  phiinsmen  had  a  way  of  setting  tires 
upon  a  loose  wheel  that  was  novel.  Our  tires  be- 
came very  loose  from  the  long  diy  reaches.  Wc 
took  (»IT  the  tire,  tacked  a  slij)  of  fresh  hide  entire- 
ly around  the  rim,  heated  the  tire,  droi)p(Ml  it  on 
the  wheel  and  <piickly  chucked  it  into  the  water 
and  lia«l  wheels  as  good  as  new. 

Our  company  was  three  nights  and  (wo  days 
and  nearly  a  half  in  crossing  the  wid<'s(  desei-t. 
It  was  a  beautiful  lirm  road  until  we  struck  deep 


CROSSING  A  DESERT. 


303 


S 


iUHl,  which  ('xt(^n(h'(l  out  for  d 


('jii'son  Rivvr  into  tho  dosert.     \]oU 


("iiipticd  (nir  rubber  doth 


even  miles  from 
•i*<»  startint*'  we 


water,  Jiauled  liay,  which  we  )ia<l 


OS  sacks,  tlHed  them  with 


('iired,  to  feed 
ip  as  pleasantly  as  if 


our  mules,  and  made  the  tr 

'T'^J^'^!'.  '?^-    ^''^'  ^''^'^  ''f  ^^''^t^r  on  Hiis  wid^ 

•ones  of  dead  j.ni- 
iiny  wells  had 


'sert  had  left  many  thousand  b 

ma  Is  bleachino-  upon  its  w^a.stes.    M 
be(>n  duii' 


lu  various  places  and  we  t(^sted  the  wate 


111  them  and  found  it  intensely  salt.     Tl 
space  is  evidently  the  bed  of  a  salt  sea. 
In  the  lon<«'  reaches  wl 


le  en  lire 


lere  no  trees  of  any  kind 

pioueer 


lAiow,  the  entire  d(>])endenee  of  the  earl 
for  fire  was  upon  buffalo  chips,  the 
coal  of  the  plains.    It  mal 


no  way  otfensiye.     And  if 
vaded  the  plains,  butfalochi. 
ahtno  the  route  to-day  at  fo'rtv  doll 


animal  char 
Ives  a  n()o,i  f\y^,  .^^^^l  -^^  j 


n 


>  iron  horse  had  in- 
ps  would  be  selling  all 


One  of  the  pleasant   historbal 


ars  per  (on. 


*•'"*   company    naturally    takes   a    prid 
'»•»<'   iii«lit    we   cami>ed    upon    a    littl 
stream     near    where    the    city    of    m 
stands;  the  whole  land 


al  eyents  in  which 
pride   is,    that 


c   niounlain 


uver    now 


M 


IS  wihl  as  nature  made  it 
invyears?,ft,>rward  oneofthe  little  baml,  Frank 


Denyer,  was  elected  Lieutenant-( 


orad 


o,  an<l   (j(Mi.  J.   \v.   i),.„v 
most  prominent  politi 
city  of  Denver  was  named  in  I 


itovei-nor  of  Col- 
or was  aniono-  the 
cians  of  the  coast,  and  the 
K'uor  of  them.     1 


ilj 


iiiii 


304         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


have  thuy,  as  concisely  as  I  could,  sketched  life  as 
it  was  in  a  wajjjon  journey  across  the  plains  forty- 
tive  and  fifty  years  ago.  It  was  a  memorable  ex- 
perience, and  none  who  took  it  will  fail  to  have  of 
it  a  vivid  remembrance  as  long-  as  life  lasts.  If 
its  annoyances  were  many,  its  novelties  and  pleas 
inu'  remembrances  were  so  numerous  as  to  make  it 
the  Jiotable  journey  of  even  the  most  adventurous 
life. 


APPENDIX. 


NARRATIVE  OF  THE  WINTER  TRIP  ACROSS  THE  ROCKY 
MOUNTAINS  OP  DR.  MARCUS  WHITMAN  AND  HON. 
A.  LAWRENCE  LOVEJOY,  IN  1842,  FUR- 
NISHED    BY     REQUEST,     FROM 
MR.     LOVEJOY,     THE 
SURVIVOR. 


Orogou  City,  Feb.  14,  1«7(). 
Dr.  Atkinson— Dear  Sir:    In   conipjiauco   witli 
your  request,  I  will  endeavor  to  j^rlve  you  some  idea 
of  the  journey  of  the  late  Dr.  Marcus  Whitman 
from  Orej.'on  to  Washinj-ton,  in  the  winter  of  lSt2 
and  '43.    True,  I  was  the  Doctor's  travelinj,^  com- 
panion in  that  arduous  and  tryinj;-  journey,  but  it 
would  take  volumes  to  describe  the  many  thrillino- 
scenes  and  danj^erous    hair-breadth    escapes    we 
passed  through,  traveling,  as  we  did,  almost  the 
entire  nmte  through  a  h(»stile  Indian  countrv,  and 
enduring  much  suffering  fron;  the  int<Mise  cold  and 
snow  we  had  to  encount-r    in    passing   (.ver    tl-' 
Kocky   Mountains  in   mid    lute^-.     1  crossed  the 


Ml 


30G        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

plains  in  (•onii)an.v  with  Dr.  White  and  others,  and 
arrived  at  Waiilati)ni  tlie  last  of  Se])teniber,  1S42. 
My  party  camped  some  two  miles  below  Dr.  ^Vllit- 
man's  i)la('e.  The  day  after  onr  arrival  Dr.  Wliit- 
man  caUed  at  onr  eanjj)  and  asked  me  to  accom- 
pany him  to  his  honse,  as  he  wished  me  to  draw 
up  a  memorial  to  Coni^ress  to  prohibit  the  sale  of 
ardent  spirits  in  this  connti'y.  The  Doctor  was 
alive  to  the  interests  of  this  coast,  and  manifested 
ji  very  warm  desire  to  have  it  properly  rei)resente(l 
at  Washin5»tou;  and  after  nnmerons  ccmversa- 
tions  with  the  Doctor  tonchin^-  Mie  fntnre  prosp<'r- 
ity  of  Orej»'on,  he  asked  me  one  day  in  a  very  anx- 
ions  manner,  if  I  thon,i»ht  it  wonld  be  possible  for 
him  to  cross  the  mountains  at  that  time  of  tlieyear. 
I  told  him  I  thou<»ht  he  could.  He  next  asked: 
"Will  you  accom])any  me?"  After  a  little  retlec- 
tion,  I  told  him  I  wouhl.  'His  arran<i'ements  were 
rapidly  made.  Throuj;ii  the  kindness  (»f  Mr.  Mc- 
Kinly,  then  stationed  at  Fort  Walhi  Walhi,  Mrs. 
Whitman  was  provided  with  suitable  escorts  to 
the  Willamette  Valley,  wliei'e  she  was  to  remain 
Avith  her  missionary  friends  until  tlio  Doctor's  re- 
turn. We  left  Waiilati)ui,  October  :3,  1S42,  trav- 
eled rai)idly,  reached  Fort  Flail  in  eleven  days,  re- 
mained two  days  to  reci'uit  and  make  a  few  pur- 
chases. The  Doctor  en^a^('<l  a  ji;ui<le  and  we  left 
for  Fort  Uintah.    We  chaniicd  fnun  a  direct  route 


LOVEJOY'S  NARRATIVE.  307 

to  one  more  southern,  tlirouj.h  the  Spanish  conn- 
try  via  Salt  Lake,  Taos  and  Santa  Fe.  On  onr  wa y 
from  Fort  Hall  to  Fort  Uintah,  we  had  terribly 
severe  weather.  The  snows  retarded  onr  prooress 
and  blinded  the  trail  so  we  lost  ninch  time.  After 
arriving  at  Fort  Uintah  and  making  sonu^  p„r. 
(liases  f(.i-  our  trip,  we  took  a  new  oni(U'  and 
started  for  Fort  Uncompahora,  situated  on  the 
waters  of  (Jrand  River,  in  the  Spanish  country. 
Here  onr  stay  was  vi^ry  short. 

We  took  a  new  oui^h'  and  started  for  Ta«»s. 
After  being  out  some  four  or  live  days  we  encoun- 
tere<l  a  terrible  snow  storm,  whi.h^orceil  us  to 
seek  shelter  in  a  deep  ravine,  where  we  remained 
snowed  in  for  four  days,  at  which  time  the  storm 
had  S(miewhat  abated,  and  we  att(Mni)te<l  to  make 
our  way  out  uj.on  the  high  lands,  but  the  snow 
Avas  so  deep  and  the  winds  so  i)iercing  and  cold  we 
were  compelled  to  return  to  camp  and  wait  a  few 
days  for  a  change  of  weather. 

Our  next  effort  to  reach  the  high  lands  was  more 
successful;  but  after  spcmding  several  davs  wan- 
dering around  in  the  snow  without  making  much 
headway,  our  gui(h'  tohl  us  timt  tlw'  deep  snow  ha<l 
so  chang(Ml  the  face  of  the  country  that  he  was 
«<'"»|»letely  lost  and  eould  take  us  no  farther. 
This  was  a  terribh'  bh.w  to  the  Doctor,  but  he  was 
determined  not  to  give  it  up  without  another  el- 


m 


308         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

fort.  We  at  once  agreed  that  the  Doctor  should 
take  the  guide  and  return  to  Fort  Uncompahgra 
aud  get  a  new  guide,  and  I  remain  in  camp  with 
the  animals  until  he  could  return;  which  he  did 
in  seven  days  witii  our  new  guide,  and  we  were 
now  on  our  route  again.  Nothing  of  much  im- 
portance occurred  but  hard  and  slow  traveling 
through  deep  snow  until  we  reached  Grand  Kiver, 
which  was  frozen  on  either  side  about  one-third 
across.  Although  so  intensely  cold,  the  current 
was  so  very  rapid,  about  one-tliird  of  the  river  in 
the  center  was  not  frozen.  Our  guide  thought  it 
would  be  dangerous  to  attempt  to  cross  the  river 
in  its  present  condition,  but  the  Doctor,  nothing 
daunted,  w^as  the  first  to  take  the  w^ater.  lie 
mounted  his  horse  and  the  guide  and  myself 
shoved  tlie  Doctor  and  his  horse  off  the  ice  into  the 
foaming  stream.  Away  he  went  completely  under 
water,  horse  and  all,  but  directly  came  up,  and 
after  buffeting  the  rapid,  foaming  current  he 
reached  the  ice  on  the  opposite  shore  a  long  way 
down  the  stream.  lie  leaped  from  his  horse  upon 
the  ice  and  soon  had  his  noble  animal  by  his  side. 
The  guide  and  myself  forced  in  the  pack  animals 
and  followed  the  Doctor's  example,  and  w^ere  soon 
on  the  opposite  shore  drying  our  frozen  clothes 
by  a  comfortable  fire.  We  reached  Taos  in  about 
thirty    days,    suffering    greatly    from    cold    and 


m  is  I 


LOVEJOY'S  NARRATIVE.  309 

scarcity  of  provisions.    Wc^  wciv  coiniK^lled  to  use 
muio  meat,  dogs  and  such  other  animals  as  came 
in  our  reach.     We  remained  at  Taos  a  few  days 
only,  and  started  for  Bent's  and  Saverv's  Vovi   on 
the  lieadwaters  of  the  Arkansas  mxov[    \Mhui'  we 
had  been  out  some  fifteen  or  twenty  (hivs,  we  met 
r.eorov  Jiont,  a  brotluM-  of  (}(,v.  Jiont,  on  liis  way 
to  Taos,    ire  told  us  that  a  party  of  mountaiii  mei. 
would    leave    Rent's    Fort  in  a  few  davs  for  St. 
Louis,  but  said  we  would  not  reach  the'fort  with 
our  pack  animals  in  time  to  join  the  party     The 
Doctor  being  very  anxious  to  join  the  part\-  so  h(> 
could  i)nsh  on  as  rapidly  as  possible  I0  wiishin... 
ton,  concluded  to  ]eav(>  myself  and  guide  with  tlu. 
animals,  and  he  himself,  taking  the  best  animn^ 
with  some  bedding  and  a  small  allowance  of  ,)ro- 
vision,  started  alone,  hoping    by   rni»id   travcd   to 
reach  the  fort  in  time  to  join  the  St.  L.»uis  ,>artv 
but  to  do  so  he  would  have  to  travel  on  th(«  Sal)- 
bath,  something  we  had  not  done  before.    Mys<df 
and  guide  traveled  on  slowly  and  reacluMl  the'  lu.( 
ill  four  days,  but  imagine  our  astonishment,  whca 
on  making  in(iuiry  about  the  Doctor,  we  wer(>  told 
that  he  had  not  arrived  nor  had  he  b(HMi  heard  of 
I  learned   that   the   party   for   St.    Louis   wa. 
camped  at  the  Big  Cottonwood,  fortv  mihss  from 
the  fort,  and  at  my  reciuest,  Mr.  Saverv  sent  an  (ex- 
press telling  the  party  not  to  proceed  anv  further 


I 


m 


t      !l 


f'    1 


f      I 


310        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


until  we  learned  something  of  Dr.  Whitman's 
whereabouts,  as  he  wished  to  accompany  them  to 
St.  Louis.  Being  furnished  by  the  gentlemen  of 
the  fort  with  a  suitable  guide,  I  started  in  search 
of  the  Doctor,  and  traveled  up  the  river  about  one 
hundred  miles.  I  learned  from  the  Indians  that  a 
man  had  been  there,  who  was  lost,  and  was  try- 
ing to  find  Bent's  Fort.  They  said  they  had  di- 
rected him  to  go  down  the  river,  and  how  to  find 
the  fort.  I  knew  from  their  description  it  was  the 
Doctor.  I  returned  to  the  fort  as  rapidly  as  possi- 
ble, but  the  Doctor  had  not  arrived.  We  had  all 
become  very  anxious  about  him. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  he  came  in  very  much 
fatigued  and  desponding;  said  that  he  knew  that 
God  had  bewildered  him  to  punish  him  f'»r  travel- 
ing on  the  Sabbath.  During  the  wliole  tri|)  he  was 
very  reguhir  in  his  morning  and  evening  devotions, 
and  that  was  the  only  time  I  ever  knew  him  to 
travel  on  the  Sabbath. 

The  Doctor  remained  all  night  at  the  fort,  start- 
ing early  on  tlie  following  morning  to  join  the  St. 
Louis  party.  Here  we  parted,  Tl>e  Doctor  pro- 
ceeded to  Washiiigtou.  I  remained  at  Bent's  Fort 
UDtil  Spring,  and  jjined  the  Doctor  the  f(dlo\ving 
July,  near  Fort  Laramie,  on  liis  wav  to  Oregon,  in 
company  with  a  train  of  emigrants,  lie  often  ex- 
pressed himself  to  me  about  the  remainder  of  liis 


i  11  m  I 


LOVEJOY'S   NARRATIVE. 


311 


journey,  and  the  iiianuer  in  which  he  was  received 
at  Washinjiton,  and  by  the  Hoard  for  Foreign  Mis- 
sions at  Boston.     He  liad  several  interviews  witli 
President  Tvler,  Secretary  Webster,  and  a  good 
man  J  members  of  Congress — Congress  biding  in 
session  at  that  time.    I le  urged  the  immediate  ter- 
mination of  the  treaty  with  (h-eat  Britain  rehitive 
to  this  country,  and  begged  them  to  extend  the 
laws  of  the  United  States  over  Oregon,  and  asked 
for  liberal  inducements  to  emigrants  to  come  to 
this  coast.    He  was  very  cordially  and  kindly  it- 
ceived  by  the  President  and  members  of  Congress, 
and,   without  doubt,  the  Doctor's  interviews  i-e- 
sulted  greatly  to  the  benefit    of   Oregon    and    to 
this  coast.    But  his  reception  at  the  Board  for  For- 
eign Missions  w\as  not  so  cordial.   The  Board  was 
inclined  to  censure  him  for  leaving  his  post.    The 
Doctor  came  to  the  frontier  settlement,  urging  the 
citizens  to  emigrate  to  the  Pacific,    lie  left  Ind<'- 
pendence,  Mo.,  in  the  month  of  May,  1843,  with  an 
emigrant  train  of  about  one  thousand  souls  for 
Oregon.     With  his  energy  and  knowledge  of  the 
country,   he  rendered   them   great   assistance   in 
fording  the  many  dangerous  and  rapid  streams 
they  had  to  cross,  and  in  fin<1ing  a  wagon  road 
through  many  of  the  narrow  rugged  passes  of  the 
mountains.     He  arrived  at   Waiilatpui  about  (me 
year  from  the  time  he  left,  to  tin<l  his  home  sa<llv 


II; 

ill: 


!«i 


1 1 

r. 

I''  •■ 
il 


312         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

dilapidated,  his  flouring  mill  burned.  The  Indians 
were  very  hostile  to  the  Doctor  for  leaving  them, 
and  without  doubt,  owing  to  his  absence,  the  seeds 
of  assassination  were  sown  by  those  haughty  Cay- 
use  Indians  which  resulted  in  his  and  Mrs.  Whit- 
man's death,  with  many  others,  although  it  did  not 
take  place  until  four  years,  later. 
I  remain  with  great  respect, 

A.  LAWRENCE  LOVEJOY. 


THE  NEZ  PERCES  CHIEFS. 


3ia 


11'^^ 


HEE-OH-KS-TE-KIN._The  Rabbit's  Skin  Legglns. 
(Drawn  by  George  Catlln.) 

'''''  onlv  fn\"'  r^'  ""''  ^'''''  ^^^^f«  ^«°™«  '^y  there  were 
,  only  four)  who  visited  St.  Louis  in  1832,  that  lived  to 

return  to  his  people  tp  tell  the  story. 


1 


..J*,!.! 


314         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


HCO-A-HCO-A-HCOTES-MIN.— No  Horns  on  His  Head. 

This  one  died  on  his  return  journoy  near  tlie  moutla  of 
Yellowstone  River. 


This  is  what  Catlin  says  himself:  "These  two  men  when  I 
painted  them,  were  in  beautiful  Sioux  dresses,  which  had  been 
presented  to  them  in  a  talk  with  the  Sioux,  who  treated  them 
very  kindly,  while  passing  through  the  Sioux  country.  These 
two  men  were  part  of  a  delegation  that  came  across  the  Rocky 
Mountains  to  St.  Louis,  a  few  years  since,  to  inquire  for  the 
truth  of  a  representation  which  they  said  some  white  man  had 
made  among  them,  "That  our  religion  was  better  than  theirs, 
and  that  they  would  be  all  lost  if  they  did  not  embrace  it." 
Two  old  ar.d  venerable  men  of  this  ))arty  died  in  St.  Louis,  and 
1  triiveled  two  thousand  miles,  companions  with  these  two  fel- 
lows, low:ird  tlieir  own  country,  and  became  much  itleased 
with  their  nuuHKM's  and  dispositions.  When  I  first  heard  the 
report  of  the  object  of  this  extraordinary  mission  across  the 
mountains.  I  cotild  scarcely  believe  it;  but.  on  conversing  with 
(Jen.  ('lark,  on  a  future  occasion,  I  was  fully  convinced  of  the 
fact," 

See  Catlln's  Eight  Years,  and  Smithsonian  Report  for  1885, 
liud  part. 


DR.  WHITMAN'S   LETTER. 


TO  THE  HON.  JAMES  M.  PORTER,  SECRETARY  OF  WAR, 

WITH  A  Bn.L  TO  BE  LAID  BEFORE  CONGRESS, 

FOR  ORGANIZATION  OF  OREGON. 


lilt 


Tho  Mey.  Myron  Eolls  obtained  from  tlio 
filos  of  the  ottico  of  tho  Socrotary  of  War  twiTval- 


ori"ijial 


nablo  ])a])ors.    Thoy  boar  this  ond 


^Alarcns  Whitman  ln(losin< 


Willi  his  viows  in  rof( 


orsomont; 


synopsis  of  a  l)i' 


Oroo-on  Territory,  War.  882 


ronco  to  imi>ortan<'<'  of  fl 


i(? 


-roc.  Jnno  22,  1S44. 


To  tho  Hon.  .Tamos  M.  Portor,  Socrotarv  of  \V 


nr 


Sir — In  (*omj)Iianco  with  tl 


tho  h<mor  <o  mako  hist  Wintor,  whil 


in,uton,  I  liorowilli  tr 


lo  ro(|nost  yon  did  mo 
o  ill   NVash- 


msmit  to  yon  tho  svn< 


of  n  bill  which,  if  \\  cmld  bo  adopted,  wonld, 
conliiii.  (o  my  experience  and  observal 


)5>sis 
ac- 


hii-hl 


V  CO 


ndn 


if>n,  ])r(>\«» 
«'ive  to  t  he  best  intorosts  of  tho  ITnited 

lave  resided 


States,  <>(.,„>i.j,]iv^  ^^^  ()re«r<m,  wliere  I  1 
f<»r  nioi'o  than  seven  years  as  a  i 
the  Indian  tribes  that  inhabit  tl 


nissionai'v,  and  to 
le  iminodiato  conn- 


try.    The  (Sovernment  will  now  donbtless  for  tli 


316         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


first  tiiiio  be  apprised  tlii*<ui<^li  von,  or  by  means 
of  this  coiniuuiiifation,  of  the  iininouse  imiiiionv- 
tion  of  families  to  Orej^^on  which  has  talvon  place 
tliis  year.  I  have,  since  o»ir  interview,  been  instru- 
mental in  pilotiuj;  across  tlie  route  (h'scribed  in  the 
accompanying  bill,  and  which  is  the  only  eli<;ible 
wagon  r(Kid,  no  less  than  three  hun<lred  families, 
consisting  of  one  Ihousand  persons  of  both  sexes, 
with  their  wagons,  amounting  to  one  hundred  and 
twenty,  six  Inunlred  and  ninety-four  oxen,  and 
seven  hundi'ed  and  seventy-three  loose  cattle. 

The  emigrants  are  from  diiTerent  States,  but 
princii)ally  from  Missouri,  Arkansas,  Illinois  and 
NeAV  York.  The  majority  of  them  are  farmers, 
lured  by  the  pr()si)ect  of  Ixuinty  in  lauds,  by  the 
rei>orted  f(»r1ility  of  the  soil,  and  by  the  desire  to 
be  first  among  those  Avho  are  planting  our  insti- 
tutions on  the  Pacific  (\>ast.  Among  them  are  ar- 
tisans of  every  trade,  comprising,  with  fanners, 
the  very  best  material  f«»r  a  new  coh»ny.  As  pio- 
neers, these  people  have  undergone  incredibh' 
hardsiiips,  and  Iiaving  now  safely  passed  tiie  llliie 
Mountain   Kange  witli  their  wagons  and  elTects, 

have  established  a  durable  road  Cr Missouri  to 

Oregon,  which  will  serve  to  nmrk  penuanently  the 
route  for  larger  numbers,  each  succeeding  year, 
while  they  have  ju-actically  demonstrated  that 
wagons  drawn  by  horses  or  oxen  can  cross  the 
IJocky  Mountains  t(»  theColuuibia  Kiver,  contrary 


DR.  WHITMAN'S  LETTER.  317 

to  all  tlu«  HiiiiMter  assoHions  of  hII  iliose  wIk,  nre- 
teuded  it  to  be  impossible. 

Inihviv  slow  prooi,,s.s,  t,iesc.  pea-sons  luive  on. 
conntoml,  as  in  all  fornn^.  instances,  and  as  all 
suc'coedino-  en.iornnts  n.ust,  if  this  or  sonn^  similar 
Ml  be  not  passed  b. v  ( N>noivss,  the  continnal  f<.ar  of 
Indian  aj.j;Tession,  (he  aetnal  loss  throuoh  them  of 
'orscs,  cattle  and  other  prop(M-( v,  and  the   -rent 
IJibor  of  transport ino-  an  achMpiate  jimonnt  of  pro- 
visions for  so  Ion-  a  journe.y.    The  bill  herewith 
P>'<'l>osed  would,  in  a  -rent  measure,  l(^ssen  th(^se 
^l(•onveni(me(^s    by    the    establishment    of    posts 
whK-h,  while  havin.1.-  the  possessed  power  to  keep 
the  Indians  in  check,  thus  doin-  awav  with  tin. 
novosHUy  of  military  vi-ilam.^  on  i\w  part  of  the 
traveler  by  day  and  ni-ht,  would  be  able  to  far- 
nish  them  in  trniisit   with  fiesh  suppli(>s  of  pro- 
visnms,  diminishin-  the  ori-innl  bnnhqis  of  the 
♦'migrants,  and  findino.  t  hns  a  ready  ami  prolitnble 
market  for  their  pr.Mlnce-n  mnrket  that  wonld 
111  my  oi)inion,  more  than  sutticv  to  d(>lray  all  the 
(■nrivnt  expenses  of  such  post.    The  present  ,,art  v 
IS    sn,»,,os,.l    to    have    expemled     no     h^ss    than 
l-,(HM)  at  Lnramie's  and   Hrid-er's  Forts,  and  as 
"""'•'  moiv  at  Fort  Hall  nn<l  Fort  H.nse,  two  of 
the  llmls(m  Hny  (\>mi)nny's  stntions.     Those  nre 
at  present   the  only  stoppin-  phices  in  a  jonrnev 

olU,2()0niih.s,nmlt >ly  pince  where  nddilionnl 

supplies  can  be  obtained,  c^-eu    at  tiio  emu-monH 


318 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


rate  of  cliarjio,  called  iiioniitnin  ^H'iccs,  i.  e.,  150  (ho 
lniii<li'(Ml  for  Hour,  and  |50  tlic  Iniudrcd  for  coffee; 
(h(»  same  for  suj^ar,  powder,  etc. 

Many  cases  of  sicVness  and  some  deaths  took 
place  among  those  who  accomplished  the  journey 
this  season,  owinjLi;-,  in  a  ••reat  measure,  to  the  unin- 
terrupted use  of  meat,  sail  and  fresh,  with  flcmr, 
which  const  ilule  the  chief  articles  of  food  thev  are 
able  to  convey  <m  their  wagons,  and  this  could  be 
obviate<l  by  the  vegetable  productions  which  tlw 
posts  in  contemplation  could  very  jn'olitably  af- 
ford theui.  Those  who  rely  <m  hunting  as  an  auxil- 
iary sup]K)rt,  are  at  present  unable  to  have  their 
arms  r<'paired  when  out  of  order;  horses  and  oxen 
beciune  tender-footed  and  recjuire  to  be  shod  on 
this  louji;  journey,  sometimes  re])eatedly,  and  the 
wagons  repaire<l  in  a  variety  of  ways.  I  mention 
these  as  valuable  incidents  to  the  ])roposed  nteas- 
ure,  as  it  will  also  be  found  to  teml  in  many  other 
inci«lental  ways  to  benetit  the  migratory  po])ula- 
ti(»n  of  the  TTnited  States  choosing  to  take  this  di- 
rection, and  on  these  accounts,  as  well  as  for  the 
immediate  use  of  the  ])osts  themselves,  they  ought 
to  be  provided  with  tlu^  necessary  shops  and  me- 
chani<'S,  which  would  at  tlu'  same  time  exhibit  the 
several  branches  of  civilized  art  to  the  Indians. 

The  outlay  in  the  first  instan«'e  would  be  but 
trifling.  ["\»Hs  like  those  of  (he  Hudson  Hay  Tom- 
[•any's   surrounded    by    walls   enclosing   all    the 


DR.  WHITMAN'S  LETTER. 


819 


buildiuj^s,  aud    coustriictod    ul 


adobe,  or  sim-dricd  bricl. 


in<)st    entirely    of 


only, 
Tl 


an  be  easily  jnid  eliejii)Iy  <'rectc 
lere  are  very  eli-ible  i»lace.s  for 


s,  Willi  stone  foundations 


il. 


these  as  the  (Joverninent  will  lind 
suitable  distances,  not  further  th 
hundred  miles  ai)art,  at  (1 
pi'ineipal  streams  lliat  now  f 


as  many  of 

necessary,  at 

an  one  or  two 

le  main  crossiufi:  of  the 


con 


be  allowed  to  su<>o'est    tl 


orm  imjK'diments  to 
se<iuently  well  sui)pli(»d  wKj, 

«    of   a    rich 
miuh< 


the  journey,  and 

waler,  haviii-  alluviarbol t(,m    land 

quality,  and  -enerally  well  wooih'd.     If  I 


my  personal  knowledj 
to  1 


he  best  sites  for  said  ])osrs 


cand  obsej'vation  enabi 
■ecommend  tirst,  th(>  main  crossin-  of  tin.  K 


e  me 


Mas  K'iver,  where  a  ft 


au- 


to the  travel 


■I'l'y  would  be  Yoiy  convenient 


<'!',  and  profitable  to  t  he  station  1 


it  in  charjre;  next,  and  about  eiohtv  miles 


the 


erossin-;-  of  the  lilue  li 


lavinu' 


distant, 


uver,  where  in  times  of 


iinusmil  freshet,  a  ferry  would  be  in  lil 
useful;  next  and  distant  f 


iv<'  uianner 


rom  one  hundred  to  on 


hundred  and  fifty  mih>s  fnuu  the  last 


the  Little  1?I 


"<',  or  liepublican  Fork  of  the  K 


(» 


nu'ntioned. 


next,  an<l  from  sixty  to  one  hundred  miles  d..,. 
''•''»'"  (lie  last  menticmed,  the  point  of  intersect 
of  the  IMatte  bMver;  m-xt,  and  I 


msas; 
istant 


^o(me  liundr<>d  and  lift 


ion 


I'om  one  hundred 


y  miles  distant  from  thelasi 


mentioned,  crossing.  (»f  the  i^outh  Fork  of  the  IMatte 


lii 


ver,  next,  and  about  one  hui'.dred  and  eioht 


two  hundred  miles  distant  fi 


om  tile  last  mentioned. 


r 


320         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


Horseshoe  Creek,  which  is  about  forty  iiiih^s  west 
of  Laramie's  Fork  in  the  Bhick  Hills.  Here  is  a  fine 
creek  for  mills  and  irrigation,  good  land  for  culti- 
vation, fine  ])astnrajjje,  timber  and  stone  for  build- 
inj>\  Other  locations  may  be  had  alonjjf  the  Tlatte 
and  Sweetwater,  on  the  Green  Kiver,  or  Black's 
Forks  of  the  Bear  Kiver,  near  the  frreat  Soda 
Sprinjjfs,  near  Fort  Hall,  and  at  suitable  places 
down  to  the  Columbia.  These  localities  are  all  of 
the  best  description,  so  situated  as  to  hold  a  ready 
intercourse  with  the  Indians  in  their  passa<«e  to 
and  from  the  ordinary  bufl'alo  huntinj^-  ^rounds, 
and  in  themselves  so  well  situated  in  all  other  re- 
spects as  to  be  desirable  to  private  enterprise  if 
the  usual  advantaj>e  of  trade  existed.  Any  of  tin? 
farms  above  indicated  would  be  deemed  extremely 
valuable  in  the  States. 

The  (lovernment  cannot  lonjj;-  overlook  the  im- 
portance of  superintendinj^'  the  savaj;;es  that  en- 
danger this  line  of  travel,  and  that  are  not  yet  in 
treaty  with  it.  Some  of  these  are  already  well 
known  to  be  led  by  desperate  white  men  and  mon- 
grels, who  form  bandits  in  the  most  difficult 
passes,  and  are  at  all  times  ready  to  cut  off  some 
lagging  emigrant  in  the  rear  of  the  party,  or  some 
adventurous  one  who  may  procee<l  a  few  miles  in 
advance,  or  at  night  to  make  a  descent  upon  the 
sleeping  camp  an.)  carry  away  or  kill  horses  and 
cattle.     This   i;^   the   case   even  now  in  the  com- 


DR.  WHITMAN'S  LETTER.  321 

mencemeiit  of  our  westoru  iiiiuii^ratioii,  and  whon 
It  comes  to  be  more  generally  known  that  lar-e 
quantities  or  valuable  property  and  considerab".; 
sums  of  money  are  yearly  carried  over  this  deso- 
ate  region,  it  is  feared  that  an  organized  ban<litti 
will  be  instituted.     The  posts  in  contemplation 
would  effectually  counteract  this.     For  the  pur 
P(>se^they  need  not,  or  ought  not,  to  be  military 
ostabhshments.     The  trading  posts  in  this  coun- 
try  have  never  been  of  such  a  character,  and  yet 
With  very  few  men  in  them,  have  for  years  kept 
tlie  surrounding  Indians  in  the  most  pacific  dis- 
position, so  that  the  traveler  feels  secure  from  mo- 
lestation upon  approaching  Fort  I.aramic^  lirid.- 
er  s  Fort,  Fort  Hall,  etc.,  etc.    The  same  can  be  ob- 
tained without  any  considerable  expenditure  by 
the  .government,  whik^  by  investing  th(^  olhcvrs  in 
c'harj.e  with  competent  authority,  all  evil-disposed 
white  men,  n^fugees  from  justice,  or  dis<.harged 
vagabonds  from  trading  posts  might  be  easilv  re- 
moved from  among  the  Indians  and  sent  to  the 
appropriate  Htates  for  trial.      Thc^  Hudson  Bnv 
<  ompany's  system  of  rewards  auiong  the  savage; 
would  soon  <Miable  the  p(,sts  to  root  out  these  des- 
Peradoes.    A  direct  and  fric^ndly  intercourse  with 
all  the  tnb(vs,  even  to  the  Pacific,  u.ight  be  thus 
!'»a.ntanu.d;  the  (Jovernu.eut  would  luMomemore 
intimat(^ly  accpuiinte,!  will,  theu.,  and  they  with 
the  Government,  and  instead  of  sending  'to  the 


822         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


State  courts  a  uianifostly  j^uilty  Indian  to  be  ar- 
raigned before  a  distant  tribunal  and  ac<iuitted  for 
the  want  of  testimony,  by  tlie  teehnicaiities  <  f  law- 
yers and  of  the  law  unknown  to  them,  and  sent 
back  into  the  wihh^rness  loaded  with  presents  as 
an  inducement  to  further  crime,  the  post  should 
be  enabled  to  execute  summary  justice,  as  if  the 
criminal  had  been  already  condemned  by  his  tribe, 
because  the  tribe  will  be  sure  to  deliver  up  none 
but  the  party  whom  they  know  to  be  guilty.  Tlu'y 
will  in  that  way  receive  the  trial  of  their  peers, 
and  secure  within  themselves  to  all  intents  and 
purposes,  if  not  technically  the  trial  by  jury,  yet 
the  spirit  of  that  trial.  There  are  many  ])owers 
which  ought  to  reside  in  some  person  on  this  ex- 
tended route  for  the  convenience  and  even  neces- 
sity of  the  public. 

In  this  the  emigrant  and  the  people  of  Oregon 
are  no  more  inteiested  than  the  resident  inhabi- 
tants of  the  States.  At  [)resent  no  person  is  author- 
ized to  administer  an  oath,  or  legally  attest  a  fact, 
from  the  western  line  of  Missouri  to  the  Pacitic. 
.'he  immigrant  cannot  dispose  of  his  property  at 
home,  although  an  opportunity  ever  so  advan- 
tageous to  him  sliould  occur  after  he  passes  the 
western  Ixu'dei'  of  Missouri.  N(»  one  can  here  make 
a  legal  demand  and  protest  of  a  promissory  note 
or  bill  of  exchange.  No  one  can  .icure  the 
valuable  testimony  of  a  mountaineer,  or  an  inimi- 


DR.  WHITMAN'S  LETTER.  jjj 

grating  «it,u..s«  after  bo  lu,s  ,.„t„.<.,l  this,  at  pre.- 

«.t,  lawless  c-«,mtr.v.    Causes  ,1„ e.xist  and  will  con 

.n,.all.v  ari.,e,  in  „hieh  t„e  private  rights  of  o  t " 

7uZ'  T  "'"  ""•  ^"■'""■'"•''  "-J"'"-"  by  -  U 

counl!    ?,  "'  ""■  ■■"f"'""««'n  from   ,bat 

country  of  hquors  to  be  sold  among  the  Indians 
west  o^  the  Kansas  Kiver,  is  alreadv     L    ed  ."u 

t     .     nLTanl!""  *"';'""-^'  """  -^^  --  t  " 

:,   ""  ^""*  I»'l'«*«  "-ill  tiu.l  their  wav,  dntv  free 

br,n,«h  Oregon,  aeross  the  n.ountain;     n'd    2 

t^e  .States,  nr  less  Custon,  House  officers  alon-.  h  s 

Your  f^  TT  '"  '"*"-P"ng  them.    ° 
^utles  and  interes^;  r^r  Tt  „;;;::.—  C^^^ 

tUe  topics  here  suje'd  as  ind  "'"'""'"  """" 
it  is  the  wish  of  n     ;  ^"'^^^n-^^^^'n^nts,  which 

tJ  Uajs,  ,v,tb  fresh  horses  at  each  of  the  con- 


li  i 
w  i 


ru 


324         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

templated  posts.  The  rnlinj?  policy  pro])osed  re- 
gards the  Indians  as  the  police  of  the  country,  who 
nre  tc  be  relied  upon  to  keep  the  peace,  not  only 
for  themselves,  but  to  repel  lawless  white  nien  and 
prevent  banditti,  under  the  solitary  fjuidance  of 
the  superintendents  of  the  several  posts,  aided  by 
a  well  directed  system  to  induce  the  punishment 
of  crime.  It  will  only  be  after  the  failure  of  these 
means  to  procure  the  delivery  or  punishment  of 
violent,  lawless  and  savage  acts  of  aggression,  that 
a  band  or  tribe  should  be  regarded  as  conspirators 
against  the  peace,  or  punished  accordingly  by 
force  of  arms. 

Hoping  that  these  suggestions  may  meet  your 
approbation,  and  conduce  to  the  future  interest  of 
our  growing  country,  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Hon- 
orable Sir, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

MARCUS  WHITMAN. 


PROPOSED  BILL. 


325 


COPY  OF  PROPOSED  BILL  PREPARED  BY  DR.  MARCUS 

WHITMAN   IN   1843  AND  SENT  TO  THE 

SECRETARY  OF  WAR. 

^  A  bill  to  promote  safe  iuterrourse  with  the  Ter- 
ritory of  Oregon,  to  suppress  violent  acts  of  agoros- 
sion  on  the  part  of  certain  Indian  tribes  west  of 
the  Indian  Territory,  Neocho,  better  protect  the 
revenue,  for  the  transportation  of  the  mail  ard 
for  other  purposes. 

SYNOPSIS  OP  THE  ACT. 

Section  I.-T0  be  enacted  by  the  Senate  and 
House  of  Kepresentatives  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  m  Congress  assembled,  that  from  and 
after  the  passage  of  this  act,  there  shall  be  estab- 
lished at  suitable  distances,  and  in  convenient  and 
proper  places,  to  be  selected  by  the  President,  a 
chain  of  agricultural  posts  or  farming  stations,  ex- 
tending at  intervals  from  the  present  most  usual 
crossing,  of  the  Kansas  River,  west  of  the  western 
boundary  of  the  State  of  Missouri,  thence  ascend- 
ing the  Platte  River  on  the  southern  border,  thence 
through  the  valley  of  the  Sweetwater  River  to  Fort 
Hall,  and  thence  to  settlements  of  the  Willamette 
in  the  Territory  of  Oregon.    Which  said  posts  will 
have  for  their  object  to  set  examples  of  civi]iz<Hl  in- 


il 


326 


HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 


dustry  to  the  several  Indian  tribes,  to  keep  them  in 
proper  subjection  to  the  laws  of  the  United  States, 
to  suppress  violent  and  lawless  acts  alonj^-  the  said 
line  of  the  frontier,  to  facilitate  the  passage  of 
troops  and  munitions  of  war  into  and  out  of  the 
said  Territory  of  Oregon,  and  the  transportation 
of  the  mail  as  hereinafter  provided. 

Section  2. — And  be  it  further  enacted,  that  there 
shall  reside  at  each  of  said  posts,  one  superintend- 
ent having-  charge  thereof,  with  full  power  to  carry 
into  effect  the  provisions  of  this  act,  subject  always 
to  such  instructions  as  the  President  may  impose; 
one  deputy  superintendent  to  act  in  like  manner 
in  case  of  death,  removal  or  absence  of  the  superin- 
tendent, and  such  artificers  and  laborers,  not  ex- 
ceeding twenty  in  number,  as  the  said  superintend-, 
ent  may  deem  necessary  for  the  conduct  and  safety 
of  said  posts,  all  of  whom  shall  be  subject  to  ap- 
pointment and  liable  to  removal. 

Section  3. — And  be  it  further  enacted,  that  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  President  to  cause  to  be 
erected,  at  each  of  the  said  posts,  buildings  suit- 
able for  the  purpose  herein  contemplated,  to-wit, 
one  main  dwelling  house,  one  storehouse,  one 
blacksmith's  and  one  gunsmith's  shop,  one  car- 
penter shop,  with  such  and  so  many  other  build- 
ings, for  storing  the  products  and  supplies  of  said 
posts  as  he  from  time  to  time  may  deem  expedi- 
ent.   To  supply  the  same  with  all  necessary  me- 


PROPOSED  BILL.  337 

chanical  and  agrionltural  iin])l(Mnonts,  to  perform 
the  labor  iiu-ident  tlwroio,  and  with  all  other  arti- 
cles he  may  jndj»e  requisite  and  proper  for  the 
safety,  comfort  and  defense  ther(H)f. 

To  cause  said  pof^ts  in  bis  dK^.^etion  to  be  visited 
by  detachments  of  troops  stationvxl  on  the  western 
frontier',  to  supi)ress  through  said  posts  the  sale 
of  munitions  of  war  to  the  Indian  tribes  in  case  of 
hostilitu.^s,  and  annually  to  lay  before  Consre^s 
at  Its  -eneral  session,  full  returns,  verified  by  the 
oaths  of  the  several  superintendents,  of  the  several 
acts  by  them  performed  and  of  the  condition  of 
said  posts,  with  the  income  and  expenditures 
growinj?  out  of  the  same  respectively. 

Section  4.— And  be  it  further  enacted,  that  the 
saul  superintendents  shall  be  appointed  by  the 
President  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of 
the  Senate  for  the  term  of  four  years,  with  a  sal- 
ary of  two  hundred  dollars  payable  out  of  any 
moneys  in  the  treasury  not  otherwise  appropri- 
ated;   that  they  shall  respectively  take  an  oath 
before  the  District  Jud-e  of  the  United  States  for 
the  Western  Distri(  t  of  Missouri,  faithf  nllv  to  dis- 
charge the  duties  imposed  on   them  in  'and   by 
the  provisions  of  this  act,  and  oive  a  bond  to  the 
President  of  the  United  States  and  to  his  sucotn- 
sors  in  office  and  assio-ns,  and  with  sufficient  se- 
curity to  be  approved  by  the  said  judoe  in  at  least 
the  penalty  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  to  in- 


328         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVKI)  ORROON. 


<l«'imiify  I  lie  Pn'sidcnl  or  liis  siicci^ssoi's  or  iissi<>ns 
for  nnv  unhiwriil  ads  hy  (licm  ]>(>rforiii(Ml,  or  iii- 
jnrics  conmiidcd  by  virluo  of  (h(Mr  oniccs,  wliicli 
Siiid  I 


)0 


nds  lujiy  jil  Miiy  tinio  be  assi<>iUMl  for  prose- 
(Milioii  against  ( lie  sai<l  rcsix'cl  ive  siiperinlcndciits 
and  Ihoir  surclies  n])oii  a])i)Ii(a(ion  (o  (he  said 
jiMl^c  at  Hie  iuslanee  of  (lie  Tnited  Stales  Dis- 
trict Attorney  or  of  any  i)rivate  l)arty  aji-^i-ieved. 
Section  5.— And  b(^  it  fni-tlier  enact;'d,  that  i( 
shall  be  (he  dii(y  of  said  sn|)(>rintendents  io  cause 
tho  soil  adjacent  io  said  poets,  in  e\t<'n'  not  <>\- 
oeedino-  (UO  acres,  to  be  cnltivated  in  a  fanner-like 
manner  aink  to  ju-odnce  such  articles  of  cult  are  as 
in  IlK'irjndjinu'nt.  shall  be  deemed  the  most  pi'olil- 
alde  and  available  for  the  maintenance  of  said 
jKksts,  for  the  sni)i)ly  of  tn)ops  and  other  (lovern- 
nient  a^icnts  which  may  fi-oni  tlim^  to  time  vo- 
s(M't  thereto,  and  to  render  the  prodn<'ts  aforesaid 
ade(|nate  to  defrayin«>-  all  th(»  exiu'iises  of  labor  in 
and  abont  said  posts,  and  the  salary  of  the  said 
«le|)ii(y  snperin(endent  ,  without  resoi't  (o  (he 
Treasury  id"  the  I'nited  States,  remittini;  to  (he 
Secretary  of  the  Treasnry  yearly  a  sworn  state- 
ment of  the  same,  with  the  snri»lns  moneys,  if  any 


thei 


('  sli 


nil  b( 


le 


Section  (». — And  be  it  farther  enacted,  that  tl 
said  several  siipei-intendents  of  posts  shall,  ex- 
olllcia,  ho  Snperlntemlenls  of  Indian  AITairs  west 
of  (he   Indian   Territory,    Neoclio,  subordinate  to 


PROPOSI<]D  BILL. 


329 


and  under  the  fnll  conh-ol  .»f  tl„.  (\)inrnissi.)n('T- 
(Jciu'ra]  of  iiMlhiii  jiirnii-s  M  Wjisliiuoh,,,  Tli-it 
tlK>,V  shall  l).v  viH.M.  (.f  MM.i,-  ,»ni(,.s,  1,(.  ((M.servalorH 
of  lii<  peaces  with  till!  ,, oners  to  the  ex(,.nl  h,.re- 
"'''n<'r  prescribed,  ii.  all  cases  of  crimes  and  n.is- 
'J^'i'ieanors,  whedier  canniiKed  by  ,.ihV,<Mis  <,f  Hie 
'^•"•ted  Stales  or  by  Indians  wit'hin  the  frontier 
lino  aforesaid.  That  the>-  shall  have  power  to 
*><'"ilnister  ..aths,  io  be  valid  in  the  several  com-ts 

'd'the  United  States,  to  peri.etnatetestiinonvl(.  be 
Hsed  in  said  courts,  to  take  acknowledoi,„Mits  of 
<l('('dsand  other  sp(Mialties  in  Avritin-  to  take  pro- 
biiteof  wills  and  the  testaments  executed  upon  tin' 
said  frontier,  of  which   the  t<'stators  shall   have 
died  in  transit  between  the  State  of  Miss.uiri  an<l 
tiK'  Teriitory  of  Ore-on,  and  t(.  <!<»  and  certifv  all 
notarial   acts,   and    to   perform    (he  cer<  nionv   of 
marriaj-c,  with  as  h>oal  elTect  as  if  (In-  said  several 
iicts  above  enumerated  ha<l  be<'n  i>erformed  b.v  the 
nnif^istrates  of  an,v  of  the  States  havino-  power  to 
perform  the  service..     Tliiit   (hey  shall  have  power 
<«»  arrest  and  renn.ve  from  the  line  aforesaid  all 
dis(M'(lerl.v  white  p.Tsons,  and  all  persons  excitin- 
<•'<'  Indians  to  li(»slilities,  and  to  surren.ler  up  aU 
fugitives  fron»  justice  upon  the  re.|.iisi(ion  of  the 
<l..verm.rofanvoftheStates;tha(  (hev  shall  have 
J»ower  t.,  deman.l  of  the  several  tribes  within  (h<. 
sani  frontier  line,  the  surren.ler  of  unv  Indian  .»r 
induiUM  c.mimittin-  acts  in  contra.liclh.n  of  the 


330         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

laws  of  the  Uuit(Hl  8tnt(»s,  and  in  caso  of  sucli  sur- 
render, to  inflict  i)iinislMiu  nt  thereon  acL'or(linj>'  to 
the  tenor  and  effect  of  said  hiws,  without  further 
trial,  presuniino-  such  ofTendin.i-  Indian  or  Indians 
to  Juive  rec(Mved  the  trial  and  con(hMnnath)n  of  the 
tribe  to  which,  he  or  they  may  beh>n«;';  to  intercept 
and  seize  all  articles  of  contraband  trade,  whether 
introduced  into  their  jnris<liction  in  violation  of 
the  acts  imposino-  duties  on  imports,  ov  of  the  acts 
to  re<>ulate  trade  and  intercourse  with  the  several 
Indian  tribes,  to  transmit  the  same  to  the  Marshal 
of  the  Western  District  of  Missouri,  together  with 
the  proofs  necessary  for  the  confiscation  thereof, 
and  in  every  such  case  the  Superintendent  shall 
be  entitled  to  receive  one-half  the  sale  value  of 
the  said  confiscated  articles,  an<l  the  other  half 
be  disposed  of  as  in  like  cases  arisino-  under  the 
existiujv  revenue  laws. 

Section  7.— Ami  be  it  further  enacted,  that  the 
several  Superintendents  shall  have  and  koo])  at 
their  several  Posts,  seals  of  office  for  tJie  lepil 
authentication  of  their  i)nblic  acts  herein  ('numer- 
ated, and  that  the  said  seals  shall  have  as  a  device 
the  siH-ead-eajile,  with  the  W(U'ds,  "U.  S.  Superin- 
tendency  of  the  Frontier,"  engraved  ther(«on. 

Section  S.— And  be  it  further  enacted,  that  the 
said  Superint<Mi(h'nts  shall  be  entitled,  in  addition 
to  the  salary  hereinbefore  granted,  the  following- 
ix'rciuisites  and  fees  of  office,  to-wit:    For  the  ul- 


PROPOSED  BILL. 


331 


knowledgment  of  all  deeds   and   specialties,   the 
sum  of  one  dollar;   for  the  adniiuistratiou  of  all 
oaths,  twenty-five  cents;    for  the  authentication 
of  all  copies  of  written  iustruuieuts,  one  dollar; 
for  the  perpetuation  of  all  testimony  to  be  used 
iu  the  United  Htates  courts,  by  the  folio,  fifty 
cents;  for  the  probate  of  all  wills  and  testaments, 
by  the  folio,  fifty  cents;  for  all  other  writing.-  done, 
by   the  folio,  fifty  cents;    for  scdemnizinj,-  mar- 
riaj»es,  two  dollars,  including  the  certificate  to  be 
given  to  the  parties;  for  the  surrender  of  fugitives 
from  justice,  in  addition  to  the  necessary  costs  and 
(expenses  of  arrest  and  detention,  whiidi  shall  be 
verified  to  the  demanding  (Jovernor  by  the  affi- 
davit of  the  Superintendent,  ten  dollars. 

Section  9.- And  be  it  further  enacted,  that  the 
Haid   Superintendents   shall,   by    virtue   of   their 
offices,  be  postmasters  at  the  several  stations  for 
which  they  were  appointed,  and  as  such,  shiill  be 
••<'quired  to  facilitate  the  transportation  of  mail 
to  and  from  the  Territ(»ry  of  Oregon  and  the  near- 
«;st  postofflce  within  the  State  <,f  Missouri,  sub- 
jwt  to  all  the  regulntions  of  the  Postoffi.-e  Hepart- 
ment,  and  with  all  the  immunities  and  privile<r(.H 
of  the  postmasters  in  the  several  States,  except 
that  no  additional  comi)ensation  sluill  be  allowed 
for  such  services;  and  it  is  lierebv  made  the  duty 
ot  the  Postumster  (Jeneral  to  rause  prop,»sals  to 
be  issued  for  the  transportation  of  the  mail  alonu- 


332         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

the  line  of  said  Posts  to  and  from  said  Territory 
witLin  six  months  after  the  passajre  of  this  Act. 
Section  10.— And  be  it  further  enacted,  that  the 

sum  of thousand  doHars  be,  and  the  same 

IS  hereby  appropriated  out  of  any  moneys  in  the 
treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  carryinj,^  into  effect  the  several  provisions 
of  this  act. 


DR.    WHITMAN'S    SUGGESTIONS    TO    THE    SECRETARY 

OF  WAR,  AND  TO  THE  COMMISSIONERS  ON  INDIAN 

AFFAIRS   AND  OREGON,   IN   THE   U.   S.   SENATE 

AND  HOUSE  OP  REPRESENTATIVES.  DATED 

OCTOBER   IG,  1847. 

Perhaps  the  last  work  or  writing?  of  a  public 
character  done  by  Dr.  Whitman,  bears  the  date 
of  Waiilatpui,  October  KJth,  1847.  It  was  only 
one  month  before  the  massacre,  and  addressed  as 
follows: 

To  the  Honorable  the  Se<retary  of  War,  to  the 
Committees  on  Indian  Amiirs  and  Oregon,  in 
the  Senate  and  House  of  Keju'esentatives  of  the 
United  States,  the  following-  suj>j>estions  are 
respectfully  submitted: 

1st.  That  all  Stations  of  the  United  States  for 
troops  be  kept  upon  the  bonlers  of  N(nn('  State 
or  Territory,  when  (lesi^iie<l  for  the  protection 
and  rejifulation  of  Indian  territory. 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  THE  SECRETARY  OP  WAR.      333 

2nd.  That  a  line  of  Posts  be  established  along 
the  traveled  route  to  Oregon,  at  a  distance,  so 
far  as  practicable,  of  not  more  than  50  miles.  That 
these  Posts  be  located  so  as  to  afford  the  best 
opportunity  for  agriculture  and  grazing,  to  facili- 
tate the  production  of  provisions,  and  the  car<' 
of  horses  and  cattle,  for  the  use  and  support  (»f 
said  Posts,  and  to  furnish  supplies  to  all  passers 
through  Indian  territory,  especially  to  mail-car- 
riers and  troops. 

These  Posts  should  be  placed  wherever  a  bridge 
or  ferry  would  be  required  to  facilitate  the  traihs-- 
port  of  the  mail,  and  travel  of  troops  or  immi- 
grants through  the  country. 

In  all  fertile  places,  tiiese  Posts  would  supi)()rt 
themselves,  and  give  facilities  for  the  several  ob- 
jects just  named  in  transit.  The  other  Posts,  sit- 
uated where  the  soil  would  not  admit  of  cultiva- 
tion, would  still  be  useful,  as  they  would  afford 
the  means  of  taking  care  of  horses,  and  other 
facilities  of  transporting  the  mails. 

These  Posts  could  be  supi)lied  with  [u-ovisious 
from  otlK^vs  in  the  vicinity.  A  few  large  Voyis  in 
the  more  fertile  regions  could  supply  those  more 
in  the  mountains. 

On  the  other  hand,  military  Posts  can  onlv  be 
well  supplied  A\hen  near  the  settlements.  In  this 
way  all  transports  for  the  s.-.ply  of  interior  mil- 
itary Posts  would  be  superseded. 


334         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

The  number  of  lueu  at  tliese  Posts  might  vary 
from  five  to  twenty-five. 

In  the  interior  the  buihlings  may  be  built  with 
adobes,  that  is,  hirge,  unburut  bricks;  and  in 
form  and  size  shouhl  mueli  resemble  the  common 
Indian  Trading  I»osts,  with  outer  walls  and  bas- 
tions. 

They  would  thus  afford  the  same  protection  in 
any  part  of  the  territory  as  the  common  Tradin«" 
Tosts. 

If  provided  with  a  small  amount  of  goods,  such 
goods  could  be  barteretl  with  the  Indians  for  u<>c- 
essary  su]>plies,  as  well  as,  on  proper  occasions, 
given  to  chiefs  as  a  reward  for  punishing  thos<' 
who  disturb  or  offend  against  the  peace  of  the 
territory. 

By  these  means  the  Indians  would  become  the 
protectors  of  those  Stations. 

At  the  same  time  by  being  under  one  General 
Superintendent,  subject  to  the  inspection  of  the 
Ooverument,  the  Indians  may  be  concentrated 
un(h'r  one  general  influence. 

By  such  a  superintendence  the  Indians  would 
be  prevented  from  fieeing  from  (me  jdace  to  an- 
other to  secrete  themselves  from  justice.  Bv  this 
simph'  arrangement  all  the  need  of  troops  in  the 
interior  would  be  obviated,  unless  in  some  in- 
stance when  the  Indians  fail  to  co-operate  with 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  THE  SECRETARY  OF  WAR.      335 

the  Suporinfen(l(Mif  of  t\w  Post  or  Posts,  for  tlH> 
promotion  of  pejuv. 

When  troops  shall  be  called  for,  to  visit  thi^ 
interior,  the  farinin-  Posts  will  be  able  to  furnish 
tluMii  with  sni)pli(^s  in  passing.-  so  as  to  make  their 
movements  speed.v  and  efticient. 

A  ,'0(lo  of  laws  for  the  Indian  territory  mio-ht 
n^nstitute  as  civil  magistrates  the  first,  or  second, 
in  command  of  these  Posts. 

Th(^  same  arranjiement  would  be  equally  well 
adapted  for  the  respective  roites  to  California 
and  New  Mexico. 

Many  reasons  may  be  uro-ed  for  the  establish- 
ment of  these  Posts,  among  which  are  the  follow- 
ing: 

1st.  By  means  of  such  Posts,  all  acts  of  the 
Indians  would  be  umler  a  full  and  complete  in- 
Hpection.  All  cases  (,f  murder,  theft,  or  other  out- 
vngo  w«.uld  be  brought  to  light  and  the  proper 
punishment  inflicted. 

2nd.  In  most  cases  this  may  be  done  by  giviuo- 
the  Chiefs  a  small  fee  that  they  may  either  pun" 
ish  the  offenders  themselves,  or  deliver  them  up 
to  the  commiyidcr  of  the  Post.  In  such  cases  it 
should  be  held  that  their  peers  have  adjudged 
them  guilty  bef<.re  punishment  is  inflicted. 

3rd.  By  means  of  these  Posts  it  will  become 
safe  and  easy  for  the  smallest  number  to  pass 
and  repass  from  Oregon  to  the  .States;  and  with  a 


336         HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  OREGON. 

civil  iuaj»istrate  at  eacli  Station,  all  idle  wander- 
ing^ white  men  without  passports  can  be  sent  out 
of  the  territory. 

4th.  In  this  way  all  banditti  for  robbinjjj  the 
mails  or  travelers  would  be  prevented,  as  well 
as  all  vagabonds  removed  from  among  the  In- 
dians. 

r)tli.  Immigrants  now  lose  horses  and  other 
stock  by  the  Indians,  commencing  from  the  bor- 
der of  the  States  to  the  Willamette.  It  is  much 
to  the  praise  of  our  countrymen  that  they  bear 
so  long  with  the  Indians  when  our  Government 
has  done  so  little  to  enable  them  to  pass  in  safety. 
For  one  man  to  lose  five  or  six  horses  is  not 
A  rare  occurrence,  which  loss  is  felt  heavily,  when 
most  of  the  family  are  con>pelled  to  walk,  to  favor 
a  reduced  and  failing  team. 

(Ith.  The  Indians  along  the  line  take  courage 
from  the  forbearance  of  the  immigrants.  The 
timid  Indians  on  the  Columbia  have  this  year  in 
open  day  attacked  several  ]»arties  of  wagonw,  num- 
beri.ig  from  two  to  seven,  and  robbed  tiiem,  being 
armed  with  guns,  bows  and  arrows,  knives  and 
axes.  Mr.  Glenday  from  St.  (^harles.  Mo.,  the 
bearer  of  this  communication  to  the  States,  with 
Mr.  Rear,  his  companion,  rescued  seven  wagons 
from  being  plundered,  and  the  people  from  gross 
insults,  rescuing  one  woman,  when  the  Indians 
were  in  the  act  of  taking  all  the  clothes  from  her 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  THE  SECRETARY  OF  WAR.      337 

person.     The  men  were  mostly  stripped  of  their 
shirts  and  pantaloons  at  the  time. 

7th.  The  occasional  snpplies  to  passinjr  immi- 
grants, as  well  asithe  aid  which  may  be  affordcMl  to 
the  sick  and  needy,  are  not  the  least  of  the  im- 
portant results  to  follow  from  these  establish- 
ments. 

A  profitable  exchange  to  the  Posts  and  immi- 
grants, as  also  to  others  journeying  through  the 
country,  can  be  made  by  exchanging  worn-out 
horses  and  cattle  for  fresh  ones. 

8th.  It  scarcely  need  be  mentioned  what  ad- 
vantage the  Government  will  derive  by  a  similar 
exchange  for  the  transport  of  the  mail,  as  also 
for  the  use  of  troops  passing  tlirougli. 

9th.  To  su])pr(^ss  the  use  of  ardent  spirits 
amopn-  the  Indians  it  will  be  reciuisite  to  regard 
the  gidng  or  furnishing  of  it  in  any  manner  as 
a  breach  of  the  laws  and  peace  of  the  territory. 
All  Superintendents  of  Posts,  traders,  and  re' 
sponsible  persons,  should  be  charged  on  oath, 
that  they  will  not  sell,  give  or  furnish  in  any 
manner,  ardent  spirits  to  the  Indians. 

10th.  Traders  should  be  regarded  by  reason 
of  the  license  they  have  to  trade  in  the  territory, 
as  receiving  a  privilege,  and  therefore  should  be 
required  to  give  and  maintain  good  credentials 
of  character'.  For  this  reason?  they  may  be  re- 
quired to  send  in  the  testimony  of  all  their  clerks 


338        HOW  MARCUS  WHITMAN  SAVED  ORF    ON. 


and  assistants  of  all  ranks,  to  show  under  the 
solemnity  of  an  oath,  that  the  laws  in  this  re- 
spect have  not  been  violated  (»r  evaded.  If  at 
any  time  it  became  apparent  to  the  Superintend- 
ent of  any  Post  that  the  laws  have  been  violated, 
he  mijrht  be  required  to  make  full  inquiry  of  all 
in  any  way  connected  with  or  assisting  in  tlie 
trade,  to  ascertain  whether  the  laws  were  broken 
or  their  breach  connived  at.  This  will  avail  foi- 
the  regular  licensed  trader. 

11th.    For  illicit  traders  and  smugglers  it  will 

uflace  to  instruct  Comma ndcis  of  I'osts  to  oifer 

d  reward  to  the  Indians  for  the  safe  delivery  of 

any  and  all  such  persons  as  bring  liquors  among 

them,  together  with  the  liquors  thus  brought. 

It  is  only  on  the  borders  of  the  respective  States 
and  Territories  that  any  interruption  will  be 
found  in  the  operation  of  tliese  principles. 

12th.  Here  also  a  moditication  of  the  same  prin- 
ciple enacted  by  the  scleral  States  and  Territo- 
ries might  produce  ecjually  happy  results. 

13th.  The  mail  may,  with  a  change  of  horses 
every  fifty  miles,  be  carried  rt  the  rate  of  one 
hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in  twenty- 
four  hours. 

14th.  The  leading  reason  in  favor  of  adopting 
the  aforesaid  regulations  would  be,  that  by  this 
means  the  Indians  would  become  our  faithful 
allies.    In  fact,  they  will  be  the  best  possible  police 


Troops  will  only  be  reanirp,i  f   ^         ""Pervision. 

<onverse/;uri°f'  'oT^tf '  """''^  ^^^^  '  '''•- 
of  the  Ameri  an  a  °1  H   ^      ^         """^  fur-tradors 

Of  Who™  ;rr  tr^rerfi^sr^' "" 

gested  in  this  comn^unieation  w  ,,^1117" 
object  proposed,  were  s,,itohl„  „     ^'^••omplish  the 
it»  .uaua,en.e„;  a,.,   ™;"''^'' '^PP^-t-i  ^0' 
Respectful  I V  yours, 

.  MARCUS  WHITMAN. 

Waulatpui,  Oct.  letn,  1847. 


